e h T

The offiBcial maIgazRine of BDirds SA EWinterR 2021 No 258

Linking people with in

In this Edi on

General Mee ngs resumed A wide range of conserva on issues Showing off his red britches!

Mulga Parrot (Photographed by Bob Daly at Gluepot, 13 April, 2021 ) Contents

President’s Message ...... 5

Conservation Sub-Committee Report ...... 6

Friends of Adelaide International Sanctuary (FAIBS) ...... 10

Birds of Conservation Park ...... 12

The Overwintering Project ...... 14

Helping the Birds ...... 15

Past General Meetings ...... 16

Future General Meetings ...... 21

Past Excursions ...... 22

Future Excursions ...... 33

Bird Records ...... 36

Birds SA Contact Details ...... 39

Member’s Photographs ...... 40

CENTRE INSERT: No: 75 Matthew Symonds Clark, part 1: by Penny Paton

Cover image: An Australian Spotted Crake at Laratinga , in 2019; photographed by John Gitsham, who also designed the cover.

Graphic design: Ingrid Grigg

We welcome 38 new members who have recently joined the Association. Their names are listed on page 35.

Birds SA is the trading name of the South Australian Ornithological Association Inc. which was established in 1899. Birds SA affiliated with BirdLife Australia in March 2018. Birds SA is a non-government, non-profit organisation. It obtains its funding from memberships and donations from the public to run its programs and distribute its publications.

Birds SA aims to: G Promote the conservation of Australian birds and their habitats. G Encourage interest in, and develop knowledge of, the birds of South Australia. G Record the results of research into all aspects of bird life. G Maintain a public fund called the “Birds SA Conservation Fund” for the specific purpose of supporting the Association’s environmental objectives.

The Birder | Winter 2021 3 Diary of Events

The following is a list of the activities of BIRDS SA , FLEURIEU BIRDERS (FB) and BIRDERS (The Babblers) (PA) for the next few months. Further details of all these activities can be found later in ‘The Birder ’.

Sunday 30 May Birds SA Excursion to Narragi CP

Saturday 5 June FB Excursion to Scott CP

Saturday 12 June Birds SA No FIeld Trip—Long Weekend

Thursday 17 June Birds SA Excursion to

Sunday 20 June PA Excursion to Mundallio Station

Friday 25 June Birds SA General Meeting

Sunday 27 June Birds SA Excursion to Kaiser Stuhl CP

Saturday 3 July FB Excursion to Cox Scrub

Saturday 10 July Birds SA Excursion to Glenthorne NP

Thursday 15 July Birds SA Excursion to Brown’s Road, Monarto

Sunday 18 July PA Excursion to CP/Point Lowy

Friday 30 July Birds SA General Meeting

Sunday 1 August Birds SA Excursion to Laratinga

Saturday 7 August FB Excursion to Aldinga Washpool/Aldinga Scrub

Saturday 14 August Birds SA Excursion to Brookfiled CP

Thursday 19 August Birds SA Excursion to Shepherd’s Hill RP

Friday 27 August Birds SA General Meeting

Sunday 29 August Birds SA Excursion to Hardy’s Scrub/Onkaparinga NP

Saturday 4 September FB Excursion to Myponga Reservoir

Saturday 11 September Birds SA Excursion to Jenkins Scrub

The Birder | Winter 2021 President’s Message

Hello everyone ,

I am very pleased to advise you that we have reached Our webinars continue to be very popular. We attract agreement with the landowner of a 125ha block of between 100 and 130 viewers each time, including native Woodland and scrub in Mount Compass for Birds perhaps 25% who are non-members and who are very SA to start looking after. welcome. We hope they will be attracted to subsequently join us. Perhaps this is one of the features that are The site is in very good condition but there is scope to driving our membership growth. improve it for birds. For example, about 50 years ago a number of larger trees were removed, so there is a We are always looking for new and interesting topics for shortage of older trees containing hollows and other these webinars so we would be very pleased to hear nest sites. One enhancement we can therefore make is from anyone willing to make such a presentation please to install nest boxes throughout the site, targeted to contact [email protected] . attract the specific that we want to support. Happy birding! Also, a weed problem exists in some parts of the Steven property — notably gorse and blackberries. There are some spots that would benefit from replanting. We will be working with Trees for Life to undertake the required work, and we will be calling out in due course for input from our members in the form of of working bees. John’s Final Committee Meeting We will have access to the property at least quarterly to John Gitsham run members’ fieldtrips, and we will be monitoring the was president of results of our improvements with regular bird surveys; Birds SA for including we hope, bird-banding if we can obtain the nearly four years required permissions. (2016-2020) and This is an exciting development where we hope to make prior to that, a good spot even better for birds. If any of our members vice-president live near Mount Compass and would like to have an for 3 years (2013- ongoing role (large or small) in the development of this 2016). He was on site, then please contact [email protected] the committee from 2013 to Our collaboration with Bush Heritage continues in May 2021 and has with our second bird survey of their Boolcoomatta finally decided to reserve up near Silverton. Richard Woodland will be step down. taking a team of about 12 volunteers for a long weekend John Gitsham at his final Birds SA to build upon the initial survey undertaken in November In the Autumn committee meeting 2020. We aim to conduct these surveys at least twice a Birder, Steven (Photographed by Alan Burns) year to develop robust longitudinal data. If you are outlined John’s interested in taking part in these surveys please get in contributions as president of Birds SA. John would touch with Richard – see page 39 for his contact details. like you all to know that he enjoyed the challenges in being president and being part of the changes It is very encouraging to see our membership continue to — especially affiliation with BirdLife Australia and grow strongly as we regularly attract between 10 and 20 the Association’s significant membership growth. new members every month. Soon we will be breaching the 1000 member mark – a cause for celebration! As editor of The Birder, I should like to add that, especially by designing the cover of each issue, To support this influx of new members we had a very successful New Members’ Field Day in March to providing some valuable articles and authorising Laratinga wetlands in Mount Barker. The 24 spots were the use of a professional graphic designer and snapped up overnight. On site the members were coloured illustrations, throughout the document, divided into teams of groups of four and allocated to an he made a significant contribution to the experienced guide who led a tour providing a strong transformation of our quarterly publication from a educational focus; explaining the key identification Newsletter to a professional-looking Magazine features of the birds they saw, and related them back to Cynthia Pyle images in the field guides. Following this success, we will be offering similar trips later in the year.

The Birder | Winter 2021 5 Conservation Sub-committee

Duck and Quail Hunting On 4 February 2021 ABC News reported that: “In recent years, the GMA has been repeatedly accused of failing News from our Victorian friends, RVOTDS, (Regional to investigate and enforce duck shooting breaches.” Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting) has alerted us to In 2018, an internal report found it was "widely the illogical way changes have been made to the 2021 perceived" by both shooters and its own staff "to be Victorian duck hunting season after data was released unable to police [hunting laws] properly or to punish from a trial survey conducted by the Game those who break them." Management Authority (GMA) and the Arthur Rylah Institute in November 2020. One could argue strongly that it is impossible for hunting regulations to be policed adequately in SA given The trial survey was established by the GMA to estimate the level of resources applied to this task. the state-wide abundance of game duck species. Birds SA continues to ask the State Government why it Changes announced in mid-April in Victoria include supports the killing of native birdlife in the face of increasing the bag limit (number of birds able to be widespread public opposition on both sustainability and taken per day per hunter) from two to five ducks and welfare grounds. We will endeavour to ensure removing the geographic restrictions that limited where that the hunting of native birds is given prominence as Chestnut Teal and Grey Teal species could be hunted. an issue in the lead-up to the next State Election in 2022. Further information from RVOTDS can be found at: https://www.regionalvictoriansotds.com/post-1/shoot Members of the Treasures not Targets Coalition, of ers-state which Birds SA is a member, have recently been running anti-duck shooting advertisements in the Adelaide The Victorian Government announced that the Advertiser. The attached advertisement featured duck-hunting season will begin on Wednesday 26 prominently in the Advertiser on Saturday 1 May 2021. May 2021 and last 20 days. This compares with the Further advertising, aimed at better educating the SA season, which commenced on 20 March 2021 and public about duck and quail shooting, will be continuing runs until 27 June 2021. throughout 2021 using a range of media platforms.

6 The Birder | Winter 2021 Conservation Sub-committee (continued)

Off-road Vehicle Documentary The Natural Resources Committee Birds SA Committee member Davide Gaglio has been recommends that the working hard producing a documentary video that South Australian Government: highlights the impacts on birdlife of off-road vehicles in Further investigates the introduction of a coastal areas. 5. permit system for off-road vehicle use in The documentary is nearing completion. It contains South Australia, such as exists in other material showing the good work being done by some states. local Councils and volunteers to better protect birds as 6. Undertakes an inventory in partnership well as some of the irresponsible off-road vehicle with local government to identify areas behaviour which is of great concern. We expect the which should be prohibited either documentary to be launched mid-year and be used for seasonally or permanently, areas which educational purposes as well as firing up action to could be opened for limited use, and address the issues identified in the Off-road Vehicle areas where environmental impacts are Inquiry conducted by the State Government in 2019. likely to be lowest. There has been no obvious action to date from the State Government on the seven major recommendations from the Inquiry which were tabled in State Parliament Use of off-road vehicles will be another issue which we in mid-2020. Of particular interest to Birds SA were will endeavour to ensure receives high prominence in recommendations 5. And 6. These were as follows: the lead-up to the State Election in 2022.

A tragedy on is a species of migratory shorebirds found wakeup call when it comes to sharing in Australia each summer, these the beach. weary travellers were killed while conserving energy in preparation for Earlier this month, 20 Red-necked the long journey home. TonRKaAngGaroEo IDslanY d Stints were resting on Kangaroo Island’s Brownlow Beach when they While it’s not illegal to drive vehicles (from BirdLife Australia) were run over by a vehicle speeding along many of South Australia’s along the sand. One of about 35 beaches, this beach was a vehicle-free zone – although a poorly marked one. There are strict rules around sharing the beach with wildlife, but this crime demonstrates that these regulations are meaningless unless they are properly enforced and advertised with clear signage. “These tiny birds fly up to 10,000 kilometres from Australia to return to their breeding grounds in Siberia, and they expend an enormous amount of energy to get there,” says Dr Grainne Maguire, BirdLife Australia’s Coastal Birds Program Lead. “To be mown down like this, just as they were ready to go, is a real tragedy.” Our beaches aren’t just our playgrounds – they are also incredibly important breeding and feeding habitat for some of Australia’s most threatened birds. For more information on how to Wheel tracks on Dead Red-necked Stint — safely share the beach with our birds, Brownlow Beach Brownlow Beach visit: https://birdlife.org.au/.../beach- (Photo supplied by BirdLife Australia) (Photo supplied by BirdLife Australia) nesting.../for-beach-users

The Birder | Winter 2021 7 Conservation Sub-committee (continued)

Potential Sale of Land at Monarto Water for the Lavender Trail. The five parcels of land Woodlands currently fall within the portfolio of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA). In February 2021 Birds SA was contacted by The Birds SA has written to Minister Basham (PIRSA) Kanmantoo-Callington Landcare Group, advising us of suggesting that the land be transferred to DEW for their concerns with the potential sale of land at Monarto conservation purposes. The importance of the area for to private buyers. The land in question is between woodland birds was stressed. It was also noted that Browns Road and Highland Road Monarto and is just to retention of the land for conservation purposes would the north of the popular Browns Road birding area and enable re-vegetation works to be undertaken, resulting adjacent to the area being re-vegetated by Bio-R near in a large contiguous area of prime bird habitat. Frahn’s Farm. The land is shown as four titles in the attached map. These four titles total approximately 177 Former Birds SA President, David Paton, strongly hectares. Another adjacent block of land, within this supports the suggestion to transfer the land to DEW. It area, of approximately 65 hectares is proposed to be is understood that Minister Speirs (DEW) is also highly transferred to the Department for Environment and supportive of the proposal.

Frahn’s Farm BioR Revegetation

Title 3

Lavender Trail Title 4 BioR Revegetation Title 2

Brown’s Road Title 1 Birds SA hotspot

Highland Road

Brown’s Road

Location of Land Parcels (Map supplied by Kanmantoo—Callington Landcare Group)

8 The Birder | Winter 2021 Conservation Sub-committee (continued)

Cat Management Further key messages from Paul Stevenson’s presentation were: Research by three environmental scientists, published G Owned Cats — there is a need to educate the in a book entitled Cats in Australia: Companion and community about responsible cat management by Killer highlights the massive impact that pet and feral controlling reproduction (de-sexing), identification cats are having on Australian wildlife. Some key statistics (microchipping) and location control (containment from this book were: on property), which could start with a curfew. G Semi-Owned or Un-Owned Cats — remove these G There are 3.8 million pet cats in Australia cats and rehome or humanely kill or de-sex and of which: return. G 1.1 million (29%) are kept inside 24 hours a G Feral Cats — humanely cull — need to develop day better automated systems, building on the G 2.7 million (71%) are allowed outside to experience with the Felixer and not using 1080 roam and hunt. poison. (The Felixer is a cat management system that uses light detection and ranging sensors to G On average, an individual roaming pet cat detect when a cat passes in front of the device. It kills about 75 reptiles, birds or mammals then sprays the cat with a gel containing 1080 per year. poison. When the cat licks its fur to remove the gel G Pet cats kill 30 –50 times more per it ingests the poison.) square km around towns than feral cats G do in the bush. There is a need for a consistent and State- G Professor Chris Dickman, co-author of the wide response with a book, said that each day cats (both pet new Dog and Cat and feral) are killing over 3.1 million Management Act. The Act mammals, 1.8 million reptiles and 1.3 is due for review in 2022 million birds in Australia. and is the responsibility of Minister Speirs. The Birds SA Conservation sub-Committee has been G The question of who is aware of difficulties faced by individual Councils in SA in going to pay for cat trying to implement cat management practices which management continually go some way to addressing these alarming statistics. arises. Cat registration can provide a revenue source Sub-Committee member David Andrewartha has to enable Councils to manage the issue. contacted 68 Councils in SA to get feedback on their G Introduce mandatory cat detention periods for stray approach to cat management. cats. We also arranged for the CEO of RSPCA SA, Paul G Introduce cat trained animal management officers. Stevenson, to address the sub-Committee on the Cat (prevent inhumane treatment) Management Plan for South Australia, published jointly by RSPCA and the Animal Welfare League SA. This Plan G Develop education materials for: is available online at: 1. Responsible Cat Ownership – including benefits Cat Management Plan for SA - RSPCA South Australia of cat containment (rspcasa.org.au) 2. De-sexing programs and microchipping 3. Semi-owned cats (fed but not housed animals) The objectives of the Cat Management Plan for South Australia are to: 4. Standardised cat management (Dog and Cat Management Board website) 1. Improve the health and wellbeing of cats 2. Reduce predation of cats on native wildlife David Andrewartha and Chris Proud from the Conservation sub-Committee are currently developing 3. Reduce cat-related nuisance complaints in the a Birds SA policy for cat management. It is important for community. Birds SA to have this in place when the current Dog and The SA Plan identifies 25 Actions and those responsible Cat Management Act comes up for review in 2022. for implementing these Actions. Jeff Groves

The Birder | Winter 2021 9 (FAIBS)

FAIBS’ Recent Projects

With the migratory birds well on the way in their journey to the northern hemisphere to breed, Friends of Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary (FAIBS) have focussed on habitat projects along the coastline in recent weeks. Parham Red Dunes

In April a group of keen volunteers made their way Volunteers in the Parham Red Dunes to the Parham Red Dunes From left to right: Brian and Heather Cosh, Maree Merchant, Clive Palins, Lee Tan, where selected tools and Betty Brezovskis herbicide were used to Thompson Beach control the remaining spiky Boxthorn bushes. Tree In May, at Thompson Beach, the group joined Darren guards were also removed from previously planted Kennedy (Adelaide Plains Council Coastal Conservation native seedlings, followed by weeding around the Officer) to contribute to a trial program where local plant bases. With the guards removed and taken away species were planted and surrounded by cocoon for recycling, that area of the Red Dunes looked protectors instead of the usual green plastic ones. It’ll natural again. This activity also provided the be interesting to compare the longevity of both plants opportunity to check on the survival of species from and protectors using this technique. past plantings over previous years, with encouraging results. An unexpected birding highlight during the Our sincere thanks go to all those who came out to morning was the spotting of six Brown Quail in nearby these AIBS sites and volunteered considerable time and grasses! effort to complete the tasks at both events.

Brown Quail at Parham Red Dunes (Photographed by Mary-Ann Van Tright, April 2021)

10 The Birder | Winter 2021 Friends of Adelaide International Birds Sanctuary (continued)

World Migratory Bird Day

A particularly exciting short film project to contribute to celebrations for the May 8th World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) was undertaken in March and April, thanks to a small grant from the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) based in South Korea. The film 'Winaityinaityi Pangkara—The Country of the Birds' , premieried locally and internationally, and was made in a collaboration between FAIBS, the Bowerbird Collective, and Northern Kaurna Elders. Bowerbird Collective members, Anthony Albrecht and Simone Slattery, are professional musicians, and Jeffrey Newchurch and Joan Gibbs during filming of the filmmakers of international renown, WMBD film (Photographed by Anthony Albrecht, May 2021) currently travelling and building birding knowledge and compositional inspiration along the is a first of its kind in foregrounding the voices of First Flyway. They are well known for their multimedia musical Nations people along the Flyway in film. It includes performances including ‘Where Song Began’ which has beautiful footage of the Gulf St Vincent coastline where been performed around Australia. Look it up on Google! the migratory and resident shorebirds gather, with Northern Kaurna Elders Jeffrey Newchurch and Lynette Their film 'Winaityinaityi Pangkara—The Country of the Crocker joined by Ecologist Joan Gibbs as they share Birds' , set in Winaityinaityi Pangkara (AIBS National Park), moving insights into the cultural and environmental importance of this Country. The film also has a musical sound track consisting of compositions selected by the Bowerbird Collective.

The film was launched locally and internationally on WMBD through social media outlets, beginning with the FAIBS Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/eve nts/142775574407728 . It is also on YouTube: https://you tube/pGZY6TLYKUg and the EAAFP WMBD site. Access continues through these sites. We strongly encourage you to have look and post your comments. Aliesa Lamana of BirdLife admiring the birds FAIBS is extremely grateful to the EAAFP for the grant that children painted at the WMBD activities. funding, and also for the many extra hours volunteered (Photographed by Anna Woods) by the participants in the making of this very special film. Already this year FAIBS volunteers have delivered eight activities, including bird ID sessions, rubbish collection and habitat restoration. Several members have also helped Aleisa Lamanna (Birdlife) with the World Migratory Bird Day Flock activity at St Kilda. Since January, over 460 hours of input to the Bird Sanctuary have been tallied.

BirdsSA and community members are always welcome to participate in FAIBS field activities, and if interested, further information about upcoming events is available Joanna (far left), Kelly and Greg enjoying lunch on the Friends of Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary at the WMBD festivities. Aliesa admires a Facebook page, or by emailing [email protected] . “colourful wader”. (Photographed by Anna Woods) Anna Woods

The Birder | Winter 2021 11 Birds of the Pages Conservation Park

A summary of a recent article on birds of to the parties’ guns! (from the description given of prey The Pages Conservation Park remains at a nearby nest this was undoubtedly a White- bellied Sea Eagle). (Published in the Australian Bird Study Association (ABSA) journal Corella — Seabird Island Series, by Birds SA Recognition of The Pages as an important location for members Terry Dennis and Peter Shaughnessy). seabirds first occurred with their inclusion in a series of Bird Protection Districts in 1909 under the Bird Protection Act of 1900. The Corella article Named by Matthew Flinders in 1802, The Pages islands comprehensively reports the bird species recorded on lie at the southern entrance to , or at sea near the islands over more than 30 survey between Cape St Albans on Kangaroo Island (15km visits between 1987 and 2014 and includes data on distant) and the Fleurieu Peninsula (13.5km distant). colonial seabird breeding events for the , The Pages consist of two mostly bare rocky islands each Crested Tern, Pacific and Silver Gull. Of particular less than 8ha in area, around 2km apart with a low interest are the annotated records of pelagic species, wave-washed reef platform adjacent to the South Page. including the Southern Fulmar, Short-tailed and A newspaper account of a visit to these islands in the Fluttering Shearwaters, Brown Skua and Pomerine early 1880s by ‘a party of gentlemen’ adventurers from Jaeger; and of some unexpected , such as a Adelaide on the SS Dolphin , refers to the presence of Willie Wagtail, Grey Fantail, Australasian and even hundreds of seals and ‘seabirds of every possible a lonely female in 1997. Besides more description’, including penguins, which were ‘very commonly encountered seabirds and shorebirds, other plentiful’. The article also tells of a ‘large number of species of interest occasionally recorded on these seals’ being shot and of a ‘large eagle’ also falling victim barren isolated islands included the Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Barn Owl and Sacred Kingfisher.

A very interesting and well-researched article, drawn from the unique experience-base of these authors, following decades of involvement with seal and sea lion research projects across many islands in SA and elsewhere. Earlier SA offshore island avifauna articles by these authors in the Seabird series also appeared in Corella Vols. 31 and 32 . Terry E. Dennis and Peter D. Shaughnessy (2020). Seabird Islands Series, No. 269: The Pages islands in Backstairs Passage, South Australia. Corella 44, 77–80.

Digital (pdf) copies of The Pages article can be obtained from Terry at [email protected] .

They are also available online from https://absa.asn.au/corella-docum ents/volume-44/ . Terry Dennis

Map provided by Sharie Detmar of the Coastal Management Branch of DEW

12 The Birder | Winter 2021 Views of the Pages Conservation Park

A view of the Pages Islands from the air, looking north over South Page, with Fleurieu Peninsula in the distance (Photographed by Peter Shaugnessy in August 2008, looking from the co-pilot’s seat in the helicopter)

An example of densely crowded nest placements (Photographed by Andrew Brooks in January 2011, in an active Crested Tern colony on St Peters Island)

The Birder | Winter 2021 13 The Overwintering Project

“The Bigger Picture” comes to Goolwa

The exhibition at the Signal Point Gallery is curated by Adelaide’s Bittondi Printmakers Association.

Signal Point Gallery: The Wharf, Goolwa SA.

Gallery open from: Fri 4 June until Sun 4 July 2021 . Daily 10am to 4pm.

The official opening event is on Sat 5 June at 2pm.

Print produced by artist Geoff Gibbons The Bigger Picture is a South Australian perspective on the Overwintering Project, which is an Australia-wide artists’ initiative, established is by definition a group of printmakers. We are in 2016 by Kate Gorringe-Smith, that celebrates the deliberately stretching the boundaries of traditional miraculous journeys of migratory shore birds. This handmade prints to include materials other than paper exhibition seeks to widen the focus by considering the in 2d and 3d pieces, as well as artists’ books, changing environments that these birds encounter, due installations and collaborative works. There will be art to effects of climate change, industry, land drainage, works for sale. settlement, plastic pollution etc. and with particular Playing in the theatrette next to the exhibition will be a reference to the South Australian coast and its specific short video, ‘Wrack or Ruin?’ about shorebirds by local local issues. birder Jennifer Hiscock, as well as the sound poem ‘On The exhibition will incorporate artist talks and the wings of a Godwit’ written by Kate Gorringe-Smith workshops, aiming to inspire Fleurieu residents to and performed by Simone Slattery and Anthony become involved with The Overwintering Project. Albrecht. (https://theoverwint eringproject.com ) For more information about the project contact: Images will depict landscape, seascapes, other birds and julia.wakefi[email protected] or animals that inhabit the shoreline, and although Bittondi [email protected] (08) 8555 7000.

Etching by Geoff Gibbons showing one of the causes of loss of important feeding grounds for migratory shore birds.

14 The Birder | Winter 2021 Helping the birds

Thank You

On Tuesday the 23rd March there was a gathering at the Dublin Hotel of the best Migratory Wader specialists in South Australia.

These generous people donate their time, expertise, fuel and travel expenses to the monthly Migratory Wader Surveys across Gulf St Vincent from October through to April.

“Thank You” on behalf of the birds. Kate Buckley Photograph by B. Brezovskis

More Publicity for Birds?

A Birds SA member, Judy Harvey, from Mount Barker It would be good to see publication of bird photos and sent our President Steven Langley this example of a information replicated in other South Australian regular bird photo, with information, that is published regional newspapers, as a means of interesting the in her local paper. public and publicising birds in South Australia. Darcy Whittaker, the recipient of a recent grant from the Cynthia Pyle Birds SA Conservation Fund took the photograph. His research report will be published in the Spring Birder.

In the past, regular bird articles and stories were The grey -thrush has a melodious published in local papers from areas such as Coffin Bay and complex ringing voice. and Strathalbyn. It is a pity that the practice has been (From the friends of Cox Scrub Conservation Park. discontinued. Visit www.communitywebs.org/friendsofcoxscrub)

The Birder | Winter 2021 15 Past General Meetings

Friday, 26 February The Passenger Pigeon was a large and beautiful pigeon confined to North America (Southern Canada and the The speaker was John Hatch, and his topic was eastern half of the U.S.A.) Extinction and ‘All That’ with Special Reference to the It was intensely social, both in roosting, feeding, PASSENGER PIGEON. migrating/nomadism and nesting.

Extinction is gloomy word, depressing in most of its It was incredibly numerous and widespread. About 2-4 connotations, especially in biological terms. billion birds probably existed, but It declined and In the BIRD WORLD it conjures images of the Dodo disappeared so quickly — in 30-40 years. (1662), (1700s) as a group, the PARADISE PARROT It was most directly destroyed by humans, mainly by (1927), the GREAT AUK (1844), THE LABRADOR DUCK hunting, but it was considerably affected by human (1875), the IVORY-billed (1958) and Imperial technology and human societal factors, such as railways, Woodpecker and unfortunately many more. telegraphy, guns and frontier culture. There are many centres of extinction of birds, often on The Passenger Pigeon was a victim of its own biology islands, the Hawaiian Islands, , being because it was: familiar cases. 1. Intensely social. It nested and roosted in areas In his talk, John concentrated particularly on one well- occupying many square miles. documented extinction, that of the Passenger Pigeon, 2. A specialist feeder, eating only masts and acorns. Ectopistes migratorius , (Linnaeus 1766), in the North America. It is probably one of the best documented and 3. A commodity – marketable as cheap meat. Birds greatest and most tragic of all. were taken by railway truckload into Chicago and other cities. A couple of years ago, John started reading Joel There were no property rights. Anyone could own a gun Greenberg’s, ‘Feathered River and use it anywhere. Even when it became scarce, there Across the Sky’ , (Bloomsbury, was no price rise and no decrease in demand. 2014). He put it away several times, not because it was boring or badly written, but because it was deeply depressing in showing humans’ deplorable connection with nature! At times he was moved to tears. The causes of species extinction are many and are shared across biological orders and classes. In no particular order and often overlapping they are: G Habitat loss in all its forms. G Introductions of alien species including diseases. G Human predation. Humans are largely responsible for all of these! The demise of the Passenger Pigeon is of such special interest partly because pigeons in general, along with parrots and rails, are prone to extinction. A recent estimate was that 30 of 80 recent extinctions were from these groups — a third of extinctions from about 10% of all bird species. Behind all this is a natural rate of species loss, which is probably very slow most of the time and not really measurable.

16 The Birder | Winter 2021 Past General Meetings (continued)

Photograph of Martha at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C. (From the collection of Garrie Landry; photographer unknown)

The Passenger Pigeon happened to live in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time. Europeans first noted Passenger Pigeons before about 1534. They were named by no less than Linnaeus 1766. They were incredibly numerous, numbering in billions until at least the 1870s. The last wild birds were seen in the 1890s. Shooting wild pigeons in Northern Louisianna is based on a sketch by Smith Bennett and appeared in the Illustrated Sporting Martha, the last Passenger Pigeon on earth died blind and Dramatic News of July 3, 1875. Schorger considered this and alone in captivity in 1914. picture to be particularly accurate. (From the collection of Garrie Landry) What a Gross Blemish on Human kind!

As John French wrote, ‘They were martyrs to our progress’ .

No real conservation ethic existed in 1860s. Some states This was probably the fastest, most dramatic extinction and provinces passed legislations, but they were largely in the modern, post-1600 era. Evidence suggests that it unenforceable. was primarily due to hunting, but clearly , was a factor. There was an almost unique By the 1880s rapid decline of the species, perhaps combination of technology and culture. exacerbated by the flocks becoming too dispersed and too small for breeding. The story of the Passenger Pigeon’s demise fills us with great guilt and sadness. The last wild birds were seen in the 1890s. Martha, the last Passenger Pigeon on earth died blind and alone in Vale Martha and your kind! captivity in 1914. If there is a God, he should smite us.

The Birder | Winter 2021 17 Past General Meetings (continued)

Friday March 26 Brian described how male NZ Fur Seals controlled a territory and mated with any females that ventured John Hatch introduced the speaker, Brian Gepp, through. This behaviour differed form that of other seals, who described his trip to the New Zealand Sub- where a single male controlled a harem of females. Antarctic Islands and Macquarie Island. Vegetation on the island included the Rata Tree, which The trip was aboard a 1984 built Russian icebreaker grows up to 5m tall. Stumps existed on the island of which was 71 metres long and designed as a spy/ larger trees cut down and coppiced, one containing an communication vessel. The trip left Hobart for Macquarie inscription from 1833. Greenhood orchids provided an Island then travelled on to the islands off New Zealand. example of a connection between Auckland Island and Biosecurity and contamination protocols were high, Gondwana Land of 550 million years ago. including the vacuuming of rucksacks to eliminate and Next to be discussed was Macquarie Island, which is an introduced seeds. island 60km long and between 8km and 10km wide. Brian first showed photos of Snares Island, a small group of uninhabited islands 200 km south of New Zealand’s , onto which landing was not permissible. He showed photographs of Cape Petrels and Snares Penguins. Enderby Island (not shown on the map), surrounded by cliffs and rocky shorelines, was home to the Auckland Island Banded Dotterel and a sub-species of the Double- banded Plover, which breeds in these subantarctic islands. Trees on the island are no more than 3m tall and are found only on the leeward side of the island. There is a boardwalk, constructed in 6m sections which traversed the 1m deep vegetation, which Brian described as cabbage-like mush. The Auckland Island Teal, a flightless duck species, has been re-introduced to NZ from birds that survived on offshore islands. Auckland Island had been cropped for 10 years, following the arrival of settlers from Scotland. Species introduced over the settlement years, including pigs, rats, cats and cattle, had a drastic effect on the island’s vegetation and bird species. In recent years rat bait has been dropped by helicopter and pigs were radio-tracked pre- eradication. However, the rats were the main predators of the island’s birds. Local birds included the Light- mantled Sooty Albatross and the Auckland Island Pipit, a sub-species of the New Zealand Pipit, the Auckland Island and the Auckland Island Cormorant. The New Zealand exclusive economic zone

Boardwalk on Enderby Island Auckland Island Pipit

18 The Birder | Winter 2021 Past General Meetings (continued)

to and from the sea. Orcas (Killer whales) are a constant threat to seals and penguins. Brian described how in the 1970s 50% of the female staff were from New Zealand and seasons on Macquarie Island went for either a year from October/November to the next October/November or alternatively for the summer, with vessels dropping off individuals and picking them up on the return trip from Antarctica. At the Station, fences have been erected to keep the Elephant Seals out and all non-combustible rubbish is removed from the island. The weather has exposed diesel pipes, creating a need to move the Station. The island has many rocky areas, but the vegetation has King Penguins, including Juvenile recovered since the eradication of feral animals, It achieved pest free-status in 2014, following 7 years of including rats, rabbits and mice. It now grows over knee eradication efforts. Politically a part of Tasmania, high. Meteorological balloons have been re-designed to Macquarie Island lies halfway between NZ and be lighter using less material, hopefully decreasing Antarctica. contamination of the Southern Ocean. It costs $800 per person to go onto the island, which Campbell Island, located over 1,300km south of New helps cover the $4.0 million annual management cost. Zealand was the next New Zealand island described. The Brian explained how the Australian Government was vessel is 20m high and waves up to 60metres are moving the island’s Station because big seas were occasionally experienced in the waters around Campbell eroding the part of the island on which the Station had Island. Vessels attract the Campbell Island race of Black- been built. Two categories of ships brought people to browed Albatross as a source of food. The bycatch of the island — small ships, such as the one that Brian had fishing vessels is often discarded, to the benefit of these toured on. This ship held 49 passengers and between beautiful sea birds. 10 and 12 staff and the much larger ships which could The Campbell Island Snipe was described as a rare, and bring up to 1,200 people. There were concerns for the hard to find, subspecies of the Subantarctic Snipe. It was sensitive biodiversity, should large numbers of people disastrously affected by rats. By 2001 the rats had been land on the island. eradicated with the Snipe is re-establishing from Young Elephant Seals spend some months ashore after populations on nearby islands. being weaned, during which time their reserves of The Campbell Island Teal, which had declined to just a blubber diminish, until they leave the island for the sea. few pairs, had been re-introduced in 2001 after the King Penguins, including juveniles, tolerate people as if eradication of rats. they were rocks on the beach, especially when people The Southern Royal Albatross, one of the largest in the get down as low as possible. world, with a wingspan of over 3 metres would come The colonies are noisy and smelly affairs, with over close to people, provided people kept low when on the 200,000 pairs nesting. Royal Penguin colonies of over island. The Campbell Island Pipit was also briefly 250,000 individuals create traffic jams for birds moving described. Large lettuce-like plants grow on the island. Drought is possible, so the large leaves have evolved hairs and needles to restrict the loss of moisture. Despite being cloudy and windy, the climate on Campbell Island is not necessarily wet. During World War II the Germans were a concern to the NZ government, and in recent years vegetation surveys had been undertaken on the island. In the early 1970s, the islands meteorological bureau was closed. Multiple layers of clothing are necessary to combat the cold. Penguin Megacity, Macquarie Island Alan Burns

The Birder | Winter 2021 19 Past General Meetings (continued)

Friday April 30 All birds require shelter in the form of safe and wind protected roosting sites at high tide.

John Hatch introduced the speaker, Colin Rogers, Some feeding action on the mudflats requires the whose topic was Feeding and Roosting Habitat for availability of soft deep mud or fine sand. Holarctic shorebirds in North of Gulf St. Vincent, a Food availability dictates the distribution of shorebirds Birdwatcher’s Perspective . in Gulf St Vincent. The locations covered by Colin’s presentation are shown by the red line in the map below. Virtually no Red or Great Knot are found on the St Kilda mudflats or roosting in the Dry Creek Salt fields. Those two species are found in the northern part of the gulf from Thompson Beach to Mac’s Beach. This is because plenty of bi-valves are found in the rocky areas of the northern gulf.

Black-tailed Godwit roost in the Dry Creek saltfields and very few elsewhere as they have historically been attracted to the ‘fresh water’ in Buckland Park Lake but they can also feed in the soft mud off St Kilda.

Coleman and Cook (2009) undertook detailed analysis of the habitat and the shorebirds it supports, from outer harbour to the army range.

Roosting options are available on floating seaweed wracks. Port Prime in the AIBS is a primary roost site in Gulf St Vincent. In large shallow pools on samphire flats such as south of Thompson Beach or in Clinton CP, on Wader feeding locations in the north of Gulf St. Vincent and in pools and islands and tracks in man-made saltfields and waste treatment plants. Migrant shorebirds frequent this area because: G Primarily because it provides an abundant food supply. According to Gulf St Vincent data 1979 –2018 BirdLife Australia, (Close 2008, and Wilson 2000), G Migrants must moult body and flight feathers, and the following species have been in noticeable build fat reserves for the journey home. decline in Gulf St Vincent since the 1980s. G Both are very energy and hence food intensive G Black-tailed Godwit - 84% activities. G Great Knot - 40% G Food supply in Gulf St Vincent is sufficiently G Curlew Sandpiper - 95% attractive to encourage some to make the extra G Grey Plover - 86% journey from northern Australia. G Eastern Curlew - 72% They come from Siberia and Alaska via the East Asian G Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - 80% Australian Flyway (EAAF), as shown by the map on page 21. G Their principal requirement is food. Species differ in The decline in shorebird numbers in Gulf St Vincent is their food and habitat requirements. Soft mudflats above the average for Australian sites, suggesting are essential for long-billed birds, such as Bar-tailed diversion to other locations in South Australia and/or Godwit, Whimbral and Eastern Curlew. elsewhere in Australia; or increased dispersion within Gulf St. Vincent away from regularly monitored sites. G mangrove, samphire and sandy/rocky Smaller birds such as Sand Plovers, Curlew Sandpiper, Red- Close (2008) concluded that most of the decline in necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pacific Golden shorebirds in Gulf St Vincent was not due to factors in the & Grey Plover and bi-valve feeders like Great and gulf, but there have been subsequent local factors, such Red Knot require mangrove, samphire and as degraded habitat in the Dry Creek Saltfields, giving rise sandy/rocky coastal pools. to diversion of birds to other sites in South Australia.

20 The Birder | Winter 2021 Past General Meetings (continued)

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in a saltfields when salt was being produced. The pond is now dry.

We have lost prime roosting sites and convenient access to observe: Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Roost in pond XC 2 at Dry Creek Saltfield. This pond is now dry after salt production ceased in 2013.

Local examples of diversions used by the birds include Bolivar Water Treatment Plant. Some of the are allowed to dry out in summer and with falling water levels they attract up to 2000 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Red-necked stints. Ponds below Bolivar also held waders when filled with recycled water. In , Port Victoria coast on has large numbers of shorebirds including Red Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit. Return of Tolderol GR Wetland habitat has attracted significant numbers of fresh-water species: sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Sandpiper and some Curlew Sandpiper.

What can be done to protect remaining shorebird habitat in Gulf St Vincent?

G Maintain and strengthen protections of the International Bird Sanctuary. Some restrictions on access are now in place but more may be needed, e.g. Thompson Beach, Bald Hill and Port Clinton. G Rehabilitation of Dry Creek Saltfields? G Resume salt production – best option for shorebirds and birdwatchers. G Rehabilitate the pans and samphire landscape as in Bay XB 8 – not so good for shorebirds and no good Critical areas of the EAAF, based on the number of priority shorebird populations supported in for birdwatchers. internationally important numbers. Rehabilitate the ponds south of the St Kilda Road with Bolivar water. Good for shorebirds and birdwatchers.

Future General Meetings

General meetings are held in the Charles Hawker building of the Waite Institute on Waite Road Urrbrae on the last Friday of every month except December, public holidays or prior to a long weekend. The doors are opened at 7.15pm and meetings start at 7.45pm. G May 28th. John Gitsham, “Pelicans of the Coorong” . G June 25th. Andrew Black, “The Adelaide Rosella: what is it and what do we call it?” (Some new research on this vexed question). G July 30th. A Members Night. I am assembling the cast and have three people so far, but would like a few more offers in order to arrange a nicely balanced programme.

The Birder | Winter 2021 21 Past Excursions

Fleurieu Birders The February Coorong Boat Trips

Fifty six people enjoyed the 4 special charters organised for birdwatchers with 14 per boat on the 4 sequential Wednesdays. The weather was great with only one hot day and enjoyed by all who attended. The birds were certainly worth the trip, while the staff and the lunch were excellent.

A total of 77 species was recorded and the results were sent to Michael Veenstra (Cruise the Coorong) for his “Daddy” Emu with young (Photographed by records; as well as to the Birds SA data base. Kathy Moore on the Coorong, 24 February 2021) The highlights varied each trip and the cameras were Birds SA well used.

The Veenstras, who run the Spirit of the Coorong as well Saturday 13 February as the little boat, said the bird life this year was the best Kinchina Conservation Park, they had seen it for many years. It was great to see the waders, Cape Barren Geese, Sea Eagle, , Black-faced Cormorant, Rufous At 414 ha, Kinchina Conservation Park forms the largest Bristlebird, a murmuration of Starlings, Far Eastern area of native vegetation in the Monarto Crown Lands Curlew, daddy Emu with 6 chicks, and all the other water region. Scattered throughout are numerous walking birds, swans and ducks in such numbers. tracks that range through a variety of landscape and habitat types. The scheduled Birds SA walk started in the Having knowledgeable birders on each trip helped the southern end of the park, at the end of Tower Road, other people to identify the species. where the Jailbreak Trail begins. With only 20-30 minutes spent on land, there was a rush In retrospect, and for future reference, we would have to find the bush birds and hunt for the Rufous been better off and more suitably rewarded for our Bristlebird. While some Rufous Bristlebirds were heard, efforts, had we focussed on any of the tracks flowing as far as I know only Ross Brittain obtained a good look. through the Rocky Gully creek, which meanders through The two skippers, Rupert and Lachie slowed the boat for the park to the north. The path we took was mostly mallee us to enjoy the best views and we thanked them for that. scrub; the alternative route is characterised by beautiful granite outcrops forming distinctive features. Had we The five hours of the journey went far too quickly. done so, there would have been a chance of sighting a Wendy Phillips Diamond Firetail, Restless Flycatcher or a Hooded Robin.

“Pelican Wonders” (Photographed by Bob Daly on the Coorong, 3 February 2021)

22 The Birder | Winter 2021 Historical Series No 75. Matthew Symonds Clark (1839 -1920) Part 1 by Penny Paton

Symonds Clark’s Family eleven children born to Francis and his wife, Caroline née Hill (Horton et al. 2018). All the As mentioned in the Historical Series piece on the children in this family were given middle names Cromptons of Stonyfell (Paton 2017), the and most were known by this middle name, which Crompton family arrived in Adelaide in 1860 with was unusual at that time. Following the death of introductory letters to the Unitarian family of two of their sons from tuberculosis (as well as a Francis Clark of ‘Hazelwood’. The history of these son who died in infancy in about 1831) and, at the two families is inextricably linked with another suggestion of son, F. Owen Clark, who spent Unitarian family, the Martins, not only through thirteen weeks in bed prior to his death in 1849, intermarriage but also through their involvement in the parents decided to emigrate to a warmer the Stonyfell wine and olive oil businesses climate (State Library of South Australia (SLSA) (Warburton 1981). John Clark married Lucy Martin PRG 389, Series 9). No sooner was the decision in 1858, Joseph Crompton married Susan Clark in taken, than their home ‘Hazelwood’ was sold and 1866, Henry Martin married Ellen Clark in 1874 the family of ten boarded the ‘Fatima’ at Plymouth and Mathew Symonds Clark married Euphemia in February 1850. In Adelaide Francis Clark, Martin, also in 1874. A fifth previously a silversmith, began union between Henry Clark an importing business which and Annie Martin did not passed on his death in 1853 to eventuate, as Henry died of his eldest son, A. Sidney Clark. tuberculosis on what was to have been their wedding day His widow and children moved (op. cit.). just after Francis’ death to what was to become the family That same Henry Clark home in the southern half of founded the Stonyfell vineyards Section 298, Burnside. The and, after the 1862 purchase home, which they christened by the Clark brothers and ‘Hazelwood’ after their old Joseph Crompton of an home in England, had been additional section further up the built six years earlier by gully, they had 24 acres of Thomas Burr, the Deputy grapes, a two-storied wine Surveyor (Warburton 1981). As cellar and Stonyfell House. Burr had gone to the goldfields Over the next few years the and Mrs. Burr died while he Clark and Crompton was away, the property of 45 partnership extended their acres was in a poor state when holdings to 400 acres, with the Clarks first saw it in 1852. Joseph buying out the Clarks in There was a cottage of four small rooms, kitchen the 1870s (op. cit.). Olives were first planted in and cellar, with wide verandahs on most sides, a South Australia (SA) in 1839, and in 1873 the well of excellent water and a large garden planted Stonyfell Olive Company Ltd was founded, with vines and fruit trees which the neighbours’ backed by the Clarks and others and managed by cows and horses had defoliated. But the situation four generations of Cromptons. A crushing plant was beautiful – a paddock with “fine old gum trees was installed in 1895 to deal with the produce of and watered by what was then a permanent creek 10,000 trees over 100 acres (op. cit.). which murmured between sloping banks and Mathew Symonds Clark, known as Symonds contained small cray-fish and tiny fish that we Clark, was born in Birmingham on 19th January caught with nets or a bent pin” (op. cit.). This was 1839, the youngest of eight sons and one of First Creek and most of the property was sold for a moderate price in the early twentieth century on

The Birder, No 258, Winter 2021 ii the proviso that it was to be used for a public park. Symonds, married Euphemia (Effie) Martin on 29th Initially Hazelwood Park was administered by the August 1874 (Figure 3) and they lived at first at SA Department of Tourism but it was transferred Hazelwood with the widowed Caroline and her to the Burnside Council in 1964 (op. cit.). Figure 1 unmarried daughter (Caroline) Emily. Caroline shows the location of the Clark land, numbered died in 1877 and in 1882 the couple with their four 21, and bounded by Greenhill and Glynburn children moved into a newly-built home at 7 Third Roads, on a map from 1856-1860. Hazelwood Street, Knightsbridge [now 7 The Parkway, itself was renovated and Figure 2 shows the home Leabrook and later named Viterbo], where Effie in an undated watercolour. The house, which was living when she died on 1st April 1941 (www stood near the corner of what are now Olive 3). The Parkway is just north of the Hazelwood Grove and Hazelwood Crescent, was demolished property between Knightsbridge Road and many years ago (www 1*). Rochester Street. Symonds and Effie had seven children (Horton et al. 2018), with one son dying as an infant in 1883 and a daughter, Millicent, dying in 1906 aged 25. Sutton (1929) indicated that Clark lived at ‘Hilltop’ Belair towards the end of his life, and this was probably one of the short- term moves away from Knightsbridge he and Effie made due to Symonds’ ill health. Brothers Howard and Symonds were both active in the Adelaide Philosophical Society and Symonds was a leading figure in the Royal Society of South Australia and influential in promoting and drafting legislation for wildlife protection (Horton et al. 2018). He was a foundation member of the South Australian Ornithological Association (SAOA), formed in 1899, and served as president in 1902–1903 and 1909–1910 and vice-president for two years Symonds Clark joined his older brothers, Sidney (Blaylock 2000). Moreover, Symonds was a and (John) Howard, in the firm of Francis Clark founding member of the Australasian and Sons, and later operated a land and estate Ornithologists’ Union and was their auditor from agency and even later an accountancy business 1901 to 1905 (op. cit.). (www 2). In 1865 in company with his elder sister (Ellen) Rosa, Symonds Clark travelled to England, during which time he visited John Gould’s shop in London and purchased his Handbook to Australian birds (Gould 1865). He took 29 live birds with him on the sea voyage (Clark 1889), having noted in his diary for 11th January 1865 the prices of birds that a Captain David Bruce of the ‘City of Adelaide’ had received in England for birds like Budgerigars, Cockatiel and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. Captain Bruce also told him that he thought “an educated Gymnorhina leuconota [] would be worth from 50/- to 60/-.” I presume this to be a talking magpie. Clark returned to South Australia on 6th May 1866 (SLSA PRG 389/7). In October 1867 he bought some birds for his future brother-in-law Fred Martin to take to England aboard the ‘Goolwa’ (op. cit.), presumably to be sold there on his behalf.

*The bracketed www 1, www 2 etc. refer to web references, which will appear in full in the References at the end of part 3

SAOA Historical Series, No 75 iii

The Natural History Diaries However, in an interview he gave in 1919, he talked lovingly of Australian birds, reflecting his Clark’s natural history diaries from 1859 to 1916 affection for their beauty and their songs (www 4). form an important resource, documenting the array of birds and other animals then inhabiting Many birds and other animals were caught or shot the greater Adelaide region. There are nine small in order to identify them and also to preserve them leather-bound notebooks with metal clasps (SLSA for his collection. As early as 1867 he mentioned PRG 389/7), some written in ink and others in in the diaries that he had a walking stick powder pencil, and quite hard to read due to their small gun that was loaded with a charge of large shot size and difficult handwriting (Figure 4 shows a for shooting birds. page from one of these notebooks). In some of The diaries from when Symonds Clark was a the notebooks, his observations of wild birds and young man of about twenty show that he was very other animals are intermingled with notes on his interested in the preservation of animal extensive aviaries and, in others, the notes on specimens, particularly birds, but that his wild animals are at the front and his aviaries are in knowledge of techniques was basic and he did not the back. They are not in strict chronological order have a mentor to guide him. Thus his early as Diary 9 is the earliest, dating from 1859-1862 attempts at taxidermy often ended in failure and (see Appendix for diary dates and transcription the discarding of objects, and one can only information). Diary 8, that from 1877, is imagine the smell in his operating room and what predominantly about plants and a trip to Tasmania his family had to put up with. Nevertheless he in October and November of that year. became more skilled and he had glass cases of Fortunately that giant of South Australia mounted birds at his home, reportedly including ornithology, both in stature and in merit, John the Little Lorikeet and Swift Parrot (Horton et al. Sutton (Paton 2002, Horton 2013 a,b, Horton 2018). 2014 a,b) wrote out in his very neat printing all the pertinent entries from five of these diaries (14/12/1862 to 10/1/1916) into an exercise book, held in the Bird Section of the South Australian Museum, Adelaide (SAMA). Sutton (1929) published extracts about two uncommon species of parrot (the Bourke Parrot and the Princess Parrot) and, although planning to publish more, he did not do so (Horton et al. 2018). Sutton (1929) explained that Clark’s widow, Effie, donated her late husband’s diaries from 1862 to 1916 to the SAOA. An SLSA volunteer transcribed Diary 1 (December 1862 to December 1863) and this transcript is available on the State Library of South Australia (SLSA) website. Horton (et al. 2018) suggested that the original diaries appeared to have been lost but were not aware at the time of publication that the diaries were held in SLSA (P. Horton pers. comm.). There is very little of a personal nature in the diaries: no reflections on his attitudes to the animals he was clearly very interested in, nor of his family or friends. People only rate a mention if they relate an observation of an animal to him or bring one to him or if they accompany him on a field trip. Even his wife to be is mentioned rarely; for example, she gave him a Bush Stone Curlew that she had caught on 21st September 1860 The diaries are peppered with accounts of trips (fourteen years before their marriage), but the bird into the foothills near his home and further afield, escaped on the next day (SLSA PRG 389/7). often in company with friends, like John Crompton

SAOA Historical Series, No 75 iv and A.M. Woods, on which they attempted to Robin and three Crimson Rosellas, two collected catch or shoot birds with which they were in the Adelaide Hills and are therefore Adelaide unfamiliar or which they were particularly Rosellas and a third collected on 29th December interested in. Their actions need to be viewed in 1897, also likely to be an Adelaide Rosella. the light of the times, when bird books were few and far between, books were expensive and Symonds Clark was keeping birds and, at times, binoculars were rarely used. Clark mentioned a other animals in captivity from at least 1859 and “field glass” in 1863 but this would have been of probably earlier as the family moved into poor quality and he would not always have had it Hazelwood in 1853, when he was about fourteen. with him when observing birds. So seeing birds As with taxidermy, he seemed to lack a mentor to close up was an important part of their attempts to advise on how to look after the animals in his learn the species and their habits. I am surprised aviaries and many died after short stays with him. that Clark lived to the age he did when reading of His particular interest was parrots and his diaries the poisons in his armoury for skinning: he often have many entries about the purchase, keeping used “Arsenical soap, Swainson’s recipe” or a and breeding of various parrots and cockatoos. solution of corrosive sublimate on the inside of skins when preparing specimens. He also Publications of Symonds Clark seemed to be quite slow at taxidermy, often While apparently of a “modest and retiring spending five to seven hours in preparing birds, disposition” (Anon. 1921), Symonds was a fluent but he was mounting as well as skinning some writer and contributed 22 articles, entitled specimens. He used ants to clean up bones, as “Zoological Recollections” to an Adelaide many of the carcasses were too old or badly newspaper The Evening Journal (and reprinted in damaged to prepare as skins. Despite his The Adelaide Observer) from 1889 to 1893 propensity to catch and kill some of the birds and (Horton et al. 2018). Either his memory was other animals he encountered, he had a genuine prodigious or he kept a diary on the journey of the love for nature and wild creatures, and was for ‘Fatima’, as the first four articles dealt with the some years the Secretary of the Adelaide Branch wildlife, including seabirds, encountered on the of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to voyage from England in 1850 (when he was aged Animals, before handing over to Mrs Ennis (Anon. 11), and the remainder with Australian cockatoos 1921), as well as being the Treasurer for a time and parrots. His experience with parrots in the (www 5). field as well as with captive birds was also reflected in an address to the Royal Society of Unlike most of the other foundation members of South Australia, which was later published (Clark the SAOA, Symonds was not a serious collector 1889). Of the 61 species then recognised in of skin or egg specimens, although he donated a Australia, Clark reported that 28 were in South small number of birds and other animals to SAMA Australia (SA), with seven or eight extras in the between 1863 and 1876 (Horton et al. 2018). Northern Territory (then administered by SA). Most have been lost, apart from a skeleton of a Cape Barren Goose and the skull of a quoll, the Clark’s paper takes the form of an annotated list head of which he removed from a specimen given of the parrots occurring in SA and to his to him. A dog killed the quoll near the River knowledge in the Northern Territory. He makes Torrens on 30th August 1868 and some some fascinating comments about the occurrence remarkable sleuthing from the Mammals team at of various species on the Adelaide Plains and the SAMA pieced together disparate information to Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR), with which he was conclude that the skull is their second oldest most familiar. For example, he had never seen a mammal specimen with a known collection date wild Galah nor a Blue Bonnet, but one of his (www 6: SAMA Facebook Page for 7 August brothers had seen black cockatoos with red in the 2019). Eight specimens collected by Symonds tail on a trip to via Willunga and Clark are in the American Museum of Natural Yankalilla in 1850 or 1851 and Symonds believed History in New York, sent there by Edwin Ashby that such cockatoos had been seen in the hills on 29th June 1923 (A. Black pers. comm. from east of Adelaide. We now know this species to be information provided by staff at AMNH). They the Glossy Black Cockatoo, which used to occur consist of two Brown Goshawks, an Australian in the Adelaide Hills but is now confined in SA to Hobby and a female Regent Parrot collected on Kangaroo Island. 20th December 1907, together with a Red-capped To be continued in the Spring Birder

SAOA Historical Series, No 75 Past Excursions (continued)

Nevertheless, and despite the day being overcast and Choughs were fossicking about. We parked our vehicles there being the threat of a storm looming, those 20-or- and began walking around the buildings next to a red so people in attendance – [they came and went, joined gum lined creek and garden area. Red Wattlebirds, and left; it was a fluid and flexible arrangement] – Peaceful Doves, Red-rumped Parrots, many White- enjoyed a pleasant morning of birding and bird-talk. plumed Honeyeaters and an Owlet Nightjar were noted. Which is to say, the event evolved into something more On the ground a couple of Diamond Firetails and Grey about fellowship than the finding of feathered friends. Shrikethrushes caught our attention as Striated Pardalotes were looking into a hollow in a big sugar gum. Of the 25 species seen, nothing out of the ordinary or As we followed a path around the old buildings and unexpected was noted. Highlights were held to be the 6 down into the creek, Yellow-throated Miners, Singing and Rainbow Bee-eaters and 1 Southern Scrub Robin, with Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters and Common Blackbirds honourable mentions going to the 2 Wedge-tailed were in the shrubs, while Little Ravens and Black-faced Eagles, 2 Brown Goshawks, and 2 Southern Whiteface. Cuckooshrikes passed overhead. In the red gums Stephen Ramm Kookaburras laughed at us, while Common Bronzewings warily watched our activities. We circled the garden and Birds SA stopped back at our parking area to have smoko under the trees next to the oval. Two Peacocks wandered over Thursday 18 February to us to try and get something to eat as Onkaparinga Wetlands Adelaide Rosellas and Galahs sat in the trees while Welcome Swallows and Magpielarks patrolled the oval Sixteen members met at the oval car park and spent area. We heard the call of a Crested Shriketit and it then about an hour observing the activity of various species appeared in the trees above us. The lone male bird has feeding and resting on a high tide in the adjacent been resident to this site for many years and seems to lagoon. A highlight here was a couple of unsuccessful be desperate for a mate. After smoko and shriketit swoops by an Australian Hobby on silver gulls it had put photographing we headed off along a track that follows to flight. We recorded 28 species at this location. the creek and found more Diamond Firetails plus Grey Butcherbirds, Mallee Ringnecks, Tree Martins, Australain Given the hot weather we moved on to the Riverside Magpies, House Sparrows, Brown Goshawks and Grey West walking trail, which was our intended destination Currawongs in a Kurrajong tree. There was very little for this outing. We counted a total of 34 species here water in the creek and the area looked very dry even including 8 Stubble Quail, a Sacred Kingfisher, 50 allowing for the fact that it was the middle of summer. Superb Fairywrens, 20 white-plumed Honeyeaters, 12 We enjoyed lunch back at the oval and added Rainbow White-browed Babblers, 6 Dusky Woodswallows and 20 Bee-eaters to our bird list. After lunch some of us Red-browed Finches.

We were happy to return for an early lunch and respite from the heat at the Riverbend picnic area, which is well maintained and has a loo! Our outing resulted in a total count of 50 species. Lynton Huxley Port Augusta Bird Group: The Babblers Sunday 21 February Bowman Park

Thankfully it was a mild and sunny day after a week of very hot days when 8 birders came together in Crystal Brook. Two each came from Pt. Augusta and Whyalla and the others from Koolunga, Weeroona Island, Pt. Neill and Mambray Creek. We then drove about 4.5km north east of Crystal Brook to Bowman Park. As we entered the recreational reserve a flock of Common Starlings flew Crested Shriketit (Photographed by Bernie Haase in past and on the oval Willie Wagtails and White-winged Bowman Park, 21 February 2021)

The Birder | Winter 2021 23 Past Excursions (continued)

climbed to a lookout on top of a hill covered with mallee The drains along the expressway yielded a Nankeen trees, some in flower. We only found Weebills and Night Heron and a Little Egret. A small group of Superb another Grey Currawong. The view was pretty good Fairywrens also stopped by during the bird call. though. Throughout the morning vehicles were constantly We had found total of 34 bird species. The birds of the cruising along Magazine Road watching what we were day would have to have been the Crested Shriketit and doing. Our presence was clearly disrupting some the Diamond Firetails. nefarious activity and although we were not harassed Bernie Haase that was probably due to our numbers. Think twice about visiting this area, especially alone or in small Birds SA groups. SA Police and Salisbury council are aware of the situation but think of your own safety. Sunday 28 February Magazine Road Wetlands Birds SA will also be contacting the council regarding the water flows and maintenance of this important wetlands area. We also need to monitor the impact that A merry band of 21 birders assembled on a very the new Northern Connector and associated works pleasant sunny morning. The extremely low water levels have made on the area. did not promise well for birding. Many ponds were Richard Woodlands completely dry – whether by design or by accident, and this certainly affected species’ numbers and density. Fleurieu Birders A Grey Shrikethrush offered good views from the Saturday 6 March parking area and another was heard calling nearby. The vegetation appears to be in some distress as there are Langhorne Creek a number of dead and dying casuarinas at the start of the track and some areas are clearly struggling due to On a perfect still and sunny morning, a keen group of human disturbance. birders met at Frank Pott’s Reserve at Langhorne Creek and travelled a short distance to the local cemetery. An early stop to observe a small number of waders revealed a possible Pectoral Sandpiper amongst some Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and a small group of Black- fronted Dotterels. By spreading out along the track we were eventually able to obtain confirmatory views of the Pectoral Sandpiper. A Common Starling in transitionary was “spotted” — at least the body was as the head retained its juvenile brown plumage! From this vantage point there was at least some water visible and Australian Pelicans, Shelducks, Chestnut and Grey Teals and a lonely Hardhead were observed. A single Black- tailed Nativehen swam across the water and began to feed on the exposed mud. A small group of Royal Spoonbills were feeding close by, and a number of Pied/White-headed/Black-winged (delete as you wish!) Stilt were also present – the adults yapping away whilst the juveniles appeared much less concerned by our presence.

As we ventured further around the track the totally dry ponds held very little birdlife. Some White-fronted Chats were seen and the most numerous species of the day were the Welcome Swallows along the wire fences. As we headed back to the parking area a Brown Goshawk flew past and a very distant Whistling Kite was seen soaring overhead to add to distant views of a Rainbow Bee-Eater (Photographed by Bob Daly at Harrier. Our total species count for the day was 49. Langhorne Creek, 6 March 2021)

24 The Birder | Winter 2021 Past Excursions (continued)

Birds SA Saturday 13 March Newland Head Conservation Park

It was wet and windy when I arrived at the park and the forecast for the rest of the day was not good. I was, to say the least, a bit surprised when 4 members and 2 guests turned up. We moved to the shelter of the bbq area to discuss what we might do. While we were talking the rain eased off so we decided to give it a go and moved off straight away.

Walking through the campground we spotted Australian Magpies and heard Grey Currawongs, moving up the hill in an easterly direction it was a while before the next Common Bronzewing (Photographed by Rose Slade bird, a Superb Fairywren, was heard. The bush was very at Langhorne Creek, 6 March 2021) quiet with no bird calls or even movement until finely we spotted some small birds in shrubs on the high side Sixteen adults and two children took a gentle stroll of the road, they turned out to be a small flock of around the perimeter of the cemetery. In the mixed . We turned left at the fork in the road and bushland, we recorded sightings of 32 bushbird species headed towards the large water tank, spotting a including the Rainbow Bee-eaters, Peaceful Doves, Crimson Rosella on the way. We passed through the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters, Superb Fairywrens and gate into the animal-proof enclosure and inspected the Tree Martins that held our interest. However while concentrating on the birds, we had to take care not to results of the direct seeding that had been done 14 stand too long in one spot. The meat ants were active months ago. Many seedlings had sprouted. along the track. Then the rain came down and we decided to head back and made for the old quarry area, not seeing any birds Wendy and Bob had checked the Dog Lake area the till we were nearly back at the campground. Passing previous week and decided the better option was to visit through a stand of Allocasuarina we hit a mini hotspot Murrundi Wetland at Wellington. and picked up Red-browed Finch, Yellow-rumped We left the cemetery at 10.30am and drove to Thornbill, Willie Wagtail and New Holland Honeyeater. Wellington. Approximately a third of the way along we After a coffee break the rain eased off and we travelled sighted what we estimated to be at least a thousand down to the beach. It was very windy but we managed Cape Barren Geese. They were feeding in paddocks and Silver Gull, Pacific Gull, Crested Tern and White-faced lucerne crops around a local dairy farm. Heron for a poor total of 17 species. Winston Syson After a quick stop at the elaborately mosaic decorated toilet block, we moved to the nearby Murrundi Reserve, to be greeted by a cacophony of boom box music, water Port Augusta Bird Group: The Babblers skiing boats, jet skis and general loud merriment, which Sunday 14 March did not bode well for bird sightings. We took the path adjacent to the river through several hectares of native Mt Gullet Beach Area revegetation; sighting Whistling Kites, Australasian Swamphens, Superb Fairywrens, Willie Wagtails, It was a lovely sunny morning when 11 birders came Weebills, many New Holland Honeyeaters and other together at the highway parking bay at Mambray Creek. birds, totalling 38 species. 3 from Pt. Augusta, 2 each from Pt. Pirie and Whyalla and 1 each from Wilmington, Weeroona Island, Adelaide As we sat around at lunch writing up the bird count, Alan and Mambray Creek. After we finished our greetings and Burns gave us a most informative and comprehensive waited for any late comers we drove of along the talk, describing the ongoing progress in the creation of highway and turned off onto a dirt road that headed Glenthorne National Park. Ityamaiitpinna Yarta. towards Spencer Gulf. As we drove along the road We look forward to returning to Murrundi Reserve and towards the coastal area we passed cropping paddocks, Wetland on a quieter day. bluebush plains and then samphire flats. In the Merle Clarke bluebush area there were small flocks of White-fronted

The Birder | Winter 2021 25 Past Excursions (continued)

prevented us from going any further but we did see Little Egrets, White-faced Herons, Australian Pelicans, Australian White Ibis and more Grey Teal. The mud banks in the gulf are exposed at low tide and there are flocks of waders on them, but it is very hard to get close enough to see them clearly. At high tide they rest in the inlets amongst the mangrove forest, which are also difficult to access and to get close to the birds.

We all headed back along the track and added Nankeen Kestrels and Tree Martins to the list. We drove up to the top of Mt. Gullet for our lunch and looked around the Mallee-covered hill on which birds was scarce, even though some of the trees were flowering. Little Ravens, Mallee Ringnecks, Australian Magpies, a Grey Butcherbird, a Nankeen Kestrel and a flock of Crested Red-necked Stints in flight (Photographed by Pigeons were found. There were also many Yellow- Larry Gruitt in Mt. Gullett Beach area, 14 March 2021) throated Miners, which may have claimed the flowering trees and be driving any other birds away. Chats, White-winged Fairywrens, Australian Magpies and Galahs with the occasional Australian Pipit on the Forty bird species were found for the day, with the road. Near an old farm house a flock of House Sparrows Eastern Curlews, Whimbrels, Curlew Sandpipers and flew around and some Little Ravens sat in a tree. A Fairy Terns being the birds of the day. Collared Sparrowhawk was flushed out of the bushes as Bernie Haase we stopped to look at a small dam, which had some water in it from a recent 12mm of rain. On the water Birds SA were Grey Teal, a pair of Australian White Ibis and many Thursday 18 March Welcome Swallows darting around. A Grey Butcherbird, a pair of Common Starlings, Singing Honeyeaters and Barossa Goldfields Elegant Parrots were added to our bird list. We drove on through the samphire flats sighting more White-winged Eighteen members attended on a fine autumnal day. Fairywrens and a Rufous Fieldwren before entering the The walk completed 50% of the Phoenix Circuit before Winninowie Conservation Park. we made for Bowden Cottage and lunch. The bird call produced a total of 34 species with the main highlight We crossed a small slippery mud flat that had been of the day being there were no Huxley bad jokes at impassable a couple of days before and followed a Lunch! coastal sand ridge overlooking the extensive tidal mud Allan West flats. The tide was high and we stopped to view flocks of Silver and Pacific Gulls and Caspian Terns on the beach with Red-necked Stints around them. We drove on along the sparsely shrub covered sand ridge and saw Crested Pigeons, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters, Australian Ravens and a White-winged Triller. At the end of the track there was a tidal creek flowing out of some mangroves and across the mud flats. Here we could see thousands of Red-necked Stints with Red-capped Plovers, Curlew Sandpipers and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers amongst them. Resting on the beach and flying about there were Pacific Gulls, Crested Terns, Pied Oystercatchers, Little Pied Cormorants and 57 Fairy Terns. Looking across the creek with our ‘scopes we could see 7 Eastern Curlews and 2 Whimbrels. Some of us found our way across the creek and walked along the mud flats to get closer to the curlews and did manage to obtain some distant Musk Lorikeet (Photographed by Rose Slade at the photos of them. Another larger mangrove-lined creek Barossa Goldfields, 18 March 2021)

26 The Birder | Winter 2021 Past Excursions (continued)

Enthusiastic participants in the New Members Educational Field Trip (Laratinga, 21 March 2021)

Birds SA Birds SA Sunday 21 March Thursday 1 – Wednesday 7 April Laratinga Easter Campout at Cantara Homestead New Members Educational Field Trip Our Easter Campout at Cantara Homestead in the To provide new members with bird identification had an excellent turnout of skills, a training session was organised at Laratinga over 40 members with quite a few being first time Wetlands with the aim to limit attendance to 24. campout attendees. There was plenty of space for Attendees could then be assigned in small groups everyone to spread out in their tents and campers and of four under tuition of an experienced birder. also ample rooms in the homestead to accommodate When the special trip was advertised, the quota those requiring a solid roof. We had cool nights of was quickly reached. Given the enthusiastic about 10C with a heavy morning dew and a few quite response it is planned to have similar trips to cater warm days of mid to high 30C temperatures so our for those who dipped out! birding surveys were a challenge for both us and our feathered friends. The homestead building provided We had perfect weather conditions with good light respite from the sun and sea breeze and it was nice to to assist with colour identification etc. All also have the luxury of toilet and shower facilities at participants were provided with a hard copy of the this campout. booklet ‘100 birds of Laratinga Wetlands’ published by the local Mount Barker Council and also given a The traditional Sunday brunch barbeque feast of pack of 4 sheets containing information on the bacon, eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms was consumed Bushland birds of the Adelaide Hills for future under the shade of the large veranda. Even though reference. most claimed to be full – all of the pancakes cooked later were consumed along with some Easter eggs! Feedback from participants was very positive, which is a great outcome, as we continue to seek Beside the daily Homestead bird counts which ways to improve our services to newer members. I included several walks over the sand dunes to the extend a special ‘thank you’ to the six ‘expert trip beach by some, survey trips were undertaken to Martin leaders’ for their commitment to supporting Birds SA. Washpool/Morella Basin CP, Chinamans Well walk, Tilley Swamp CP, Bunbury CP, and the Nruggie Lynton Huxley Ngoppun Trail at Salt Creek. The result of all surveys was a very pleasing total of 97 species being recorded Birds SA for this campout. The individual site totals have been forwarded for our Birds SA records and to the NPWS Sunday 28 March Rangers to assist with their own local records. Hart Road Wetlands, Aldinga Beach Some of the species recorded included a recently deceased Little Penguin, Emu, Nankeen Night Heron, It was pleasing that 19 members attended this field trip Collared Sparrowhawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle, White- and the total species count was 46. bellied Sea Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Australian Hobby, Jim Spiker Pacific Swift, Stubble Quail, Southern Emu-wren,

The Birder | Winter 2021 27 Past Excursions (continued)

Birds SA Thursday 15 April

Rain threatened several times but in the end only a few drops fell and in the main we had clear bright conditions for the 20 members who attended. It was pleasing to have another new and very keen young member Linkon Ferguson attend with his mum and sister. Bird sightings were constant and with a few experienced members on hand we were able to assist Linkon with a few ‘lifers’ which is always good encouragement.

We recorded 28 species during this very pleasant and enjoyable walk. Minnie and David Robertson (Photographed by Lynton Huxley Lynton Huxley on the Easter Campout, April 2021) Port Augusta Bird Group: The Babblers Friday 16 –Sunday 18 April Lake Gilles CP

Friday 16th On a partly cloudy but calm day two birders met at the tanks parking bay near the Iron Knob turnoff. One from Wilmington and the other from Mambray Creek. We travelled to Lake Gilles through long stretches of roadworks, which delayed our meeting with another birder form Pt. Neill at the conservation park’s western entrance. We drove along the western boundary road and turned off onto a track were Southern Scrub Robins had been seen before and searched the area for them but had no luck. Other birds were found in the low scrub A group on the Chinmans Well walk dominated by Mallee trees, including Spiny-cheeked, (Photographed by Lynton Huxley, Coorong National Park, Singing, White-fronted, White-eared and Brown-headed April 2021) Honeyeaters, Spotted and Striated Pardalotes, Inland and Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, Weebills, Silvereyes, Spotted Pardalote, Weebill, Yellow Thornbill, Australian Grey Shrikethrush, Galahs, Australian Ravens, Black- Golden (Western) Whistler and . The faced Cuckooshrikes, White-browed Babblers, Grey Honeyeater species included Spiny-cheeked, Singing, Butcherbird, Common Bronzewing, Australian Ringneck, White-eared, New Holland and Brown-headed. White- Blue-breasted Fairy-wrens and a Horsfields Bronze fronted Chat, Little Wattlebird, Red Wattlebird and Cuckoo, which was the only Cuckoo we would find on Rufous Bristlebird were also seen. the trip. We drove back to the road and on to the edge On behalf of all participants, I would like to extend our of Lake Gilles where we admired the view of the mostly thanks and appreciation to John Gitsham (Ranger in dry lake with some damp areas from recent showers. Charge of the Coorong NP) for his expert support in not A little further on along the track we stopped for lunch only guiding us to various sites, but providing interesting and birding around the area. Here we saw most of the historical information. We were all grateful for being birds that were found earlier and added Dusky and able to use the excellent facilities of Cantara Homestead Black-faced Woodswallows, Purple-backed and which made for a memorable 2021 Campout. Turquoise Fairywrens, Jacky Winters, Mistletoebirds, Lynton Huxley Willy Wagtails, Grey Fantail, Mulga Parrots, Tree Martins,

28 The Birder | Winter 2021 Past Excursions (continued)

Black-capped Sittella (Photographed by Southern Boobook (Photographed by Larry Gruitt at Bernie Haase at Lake Gilles CP, 16 April 2021) Lake Gilles CP, 16 April 2021)

Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters feeding fledglings, Red Grasswrens on the way. We left the Mallee and entered Wattlebirds, Yellow-throated Miners, Rufous Whistler, open Myall tree country where some rain had fallen Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Southern Whiteface, from patchy thunderstorms the previous day, so we had Welcome Swallows, Australian Magpies, Rufous to negotiate a small boggy patch on the way. This is Treecreepers, a Crested Pigeon the only one we saw for where we stopped to look for Grasswrens but had no the trip and the only hawk we found, a Collared joy. Most of the birds we did find we had seen previously Sparrowhawk. A pair of Restless Flycatchers entertained but our list was extended by adding Emus, Redthroats us for a while and we watched some White-plumed and 20 Black-capped Sittellas in two flocks which Honeyeaters which are not supposed to be found in this provided us with some photo opportunities. area. It was getting late and we had to travel across the The further north we drove the scarcer birds became park to get to Haskett Dam to meet another birder there and we stopped for lunch on a rise overlooking Lake the next day, so we drove on until we reached the place Gilles where the track crosses into private land. We and set up camp. During the night Owlet Nightjars called returned back along the track and stopped next to a out and flew around our camp. small salt lake after finding some bird activity. Here we Saturday 17th added White-winged Fairywrens to the list and saw 13 other bird species that we had seen before. An Emu It was a slightly foggy morning when we set off birding was crossing the salt lake with two Red Kangaroos, we around the area with the calls of Crested Bellbirds were definitely in Australia. We drove on along the nearby. We found almost all of the birds seen on the boundary track, past the track by which we had we previous day and added to our bird list Western Yellow entered and went on until we came to a dam where we and Red-capped Robins, Gilberts and Golden Whistlers, set up camp. The dam was dry but many Common Purple-crowned Lorikeets, Black-capped Sittellas and Bronzewings were still hoping to find water there from Inland either a Chestnut or a Copper-backed Quail the recent showers. Thrush and Common Starlings — the only introduced birds we saw for the trip. There were many Weebills, Sunday 18th Inland Thornbills and Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters in the It was a cool, clear morning when we set off birding area. The fellow birder that was supposed to meet us around the area. Here we found 26 bird species, but no didn’t turn up because, as I found out later, he had extra ones for the list. There were lots of Australian injured his back. We set off to follow the eastern park Ringnecks, White-browed Babblers, Weebills, Blue- boundary to its northern end and to look for Western breasted Fairywrens, Chestnut-rumped Thornbills and

The Birder | Winter 2021 29 Past Excursions (continued)

Jacky Winters. We decided that to take a look across the highway in the southern section of Lake Gilles Conservation Park so we headed to the O’Conner Dam area there. At the dam and its old ruins we found lots of Silvereyes and Weebills plus a photogenic Restless Flycatcher and Golden Whistler with a Western Yellow Robin. We walked around a small hill to look for Shy Heathwrens but only found a Crested Bellbird quietly searching for food on the ground and a Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring high above us. We drove on to another small rocky hill nearby finding lots of Inland Thornbills and Babblers with Turquoise Fairywrens. A Grey/ Brown Currawong flew away from us as we walked around the hill. As we returned along the track a coloured up, male Mistletoebird allowed us to get some photos. This was an area where Quail Thrush had been seen before, so we decided to look for them but no luck again. Instead we found a Gilbert’s Whistler. The top of a head with big Mistletoe Bird (Photographed by Bob Daly at Randell’s Vineyard, eyes could be seen looking at us from 1 May 2021) inside a hollow. As we approached a Southern Boobook flew out and onto a branch, allowing The Vineyard is on 800ha and is part of the largest us to get photos. It was time to head home so we drove revegetation project managed by (GWLAP) Goolwa, back to the highway and said our goodbyes. Wellington, Local Action Plan. Approximately 150,000 seedlings were planted surrounding the vines in open A total of 62 bird species were found for the trip, with paddocks covered in veldt grass. There are no grazing the White-plumed Honeyeaters found well out of their animals on the property except for kangaroos and there normal range being the bird of the trip, but a mention is evidence of damage to some of the plants. The should be given for the other uncommonly encountered openness of the vegetation makes it easier to see the birds like the Restless Flycatcher, Southern Boobook, surrounding farmland looking towards Currency Creek Western Yellow Robin, Gilberts Whistler, Blue-breasted and the Finniss River. Fairywren, Rufous Treecreeper, Copper-backed Quail- thrush and the flocks of Black-capped Sittellas. At our first stop we spread out, walking through the Bernie Haase older eucalyptus area, interspersed with the 5-7 year old revegetation plantings. Here we found 23 species in Fleurieu Birders one hour. The Elegant Parrots were in good numbers flying about with Red-rumped Parrots and Crimson Saturday 1 May Rosellas. The Honeyeaters, were: White-plumed, New Randell’s Vineyard, Currency Creek Holland, Yellow-faced, both Wattlebirds, and one Spiny- cheeked. A Common Bronzewing took off, and Richard Smyth saw an Owlet Nightjar fly out of a hollow. Fourteen people met in the car park of the One Paddock Winery and drove the 4km to the private property on We drove on through the paddocks to an advantage Sorrells Rd. We have surveyed it twice in spring over the point overlooking the Tookyerta Creek in the valley. last 2 years and expected it would be hard to find bush Here we spotted a bird of prey resting in a tree full of birds in autumn as it was very dry and not much was Starlings. Checking it through my scope, we thought it flowering. was a Brown Falcon and Bob’s photo later confirmed it.

30 The Birder | Winter 2021 Past Excursions (continued)

Birds SA Sunday 2 May , Lake Alexandrina

After passing over the Mount Lofty Ranges, a bright, sunny and cloudless autumn morning forecast what would prove to be a lovely day of birding in Tolderol Game Reserve. If there was a dark cloud of disappointment, it was the thunderclap of sporting game shooters out in the distant bays depleting the resident duck numbers. And so it goes.

The migratory waders were long gone and on their way back North, but there were still plenty of birds – 49 species in total for the day – to be seen and photographed, identifications to be discussed and debated, and accounts of recent sightings to be shared. Especially pleasing was to see, meet and talk Owlet Nightjar (Photographed by Bob Phillips at Randell’s Vineyard, with a significant number of either 1 May 2021) new members or members new to fieldtrips; hopefully the day was At our 3rd stop, on a narrow dirt track we spotted 2 sufficiently rewarding that they venture out again on Fantail Cuckoos. This scrub area had many Tree Martins, another field trip. All up, 26 people made it down to and a few Welcome Swallows were flying high above us. Tolderol for the trip. The small bush birds included Red-browed Finch, As ever – no matter the season or the particular bay Silvereye, Striated and Yellow Thornbill and Weebill, a under observation – the morning brought plenty of few White-browed Scrubwrens and Mistletoebirds. pleasing birding opportunities. After splitting into two As we were about to leave and head off for lunch, groups and heading off on our separate ways, we Robyn Hillier looked into a hollow on a large eucalypt regrouped later for the bird call. Across the morning we and amazingly spotted a well-camouflaged Owlet- saw several representatives from the birds of prey crowd: nightjar. This discovery really topped the day as it was 6 Swamp Harriers, 4 Black-shouldered Kites, 5 Whistling so hard to see! Kites and, perhaps the highlight, 1 Brown Goshawk. Other birds of note were the 14 Cape Barren Geese, 6 Our final bird count held at Wally’s Landing came to a Yellow-billed Spoonbills, 3 Spotless Crakes, 2 Singing surprisingly large 48 species for the morning with an Honeyeaters and a lone Common Greenshank. (I know, Australian Pelican and a few Straw-necked Ibis flying you know, we all know that they don’t technically ‘count’, overhead. It was a most enjoyable day and it was so but it does warrant mentioning that 2 Eastern important to see the difference that the revegetation Bluebonnets were seen ‘on the way in’; not in the has made on bird numbers and species. We can’t wait Reserve, but on the right side of the fence to be in to go back again next Year and see even more changes. Tolderol. Just saying.) The vineyard manager, Michael and Will Miles (GWLAP) Thank you to all who took the time to participate; as my will be pleased to get the survey report on this very final time out as Trip Leader, it was a lovely note to end on. special property near the Finniss. Wendy Phillips Stephen Ramm

The Birder | Winter 2021 31 Past Excursions (continued)

Birds SA Saturday 8 May Byards Road Wetlands, Sophie’s Patch Reynella East at Easter Our small group of 11 members and three visitors struggled finding car parks as there were over 100 runners competing in a 5km running event at this Birds SA ran a stall at Sophie’s Patch, near location. Luckily the majority of runners had finished Mt. Barker, over the Easter weekend. Alan by the time we commenced our walk at 8.30am. Burns and Lou Jayleigh organised and set up Birding was lean with some of the ponds dry but the stall. highlights at those locations included good views of Members were asked, via the e-Newsletter, Australian White Ibis (2), White-necked Heron (2), Red- to volunteer a couple of hours over the kneed Dotterel (3), Little Black Cormorant (2) and a Easter weekend to help run the stall, but the Little Pied Cormorant. A Collared Sparrowhawk was response was disappointing. Alan and Lou sighted several times and several large flocks of Galah were obliged to staff the stall for several (50), Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (40), Long-billed hours. Thanks especially to Lou who came Corella (9) flew overhead. Most of our group also saw back from Darwin on Saturday and spent the three species of Lorikeet — Purple–crowned (4), her birthday on the Sunday at Sophie’s and Rainbow (20) and Musk (40). also for organising much of the weekend’s With a darkening sky we returned to the now near effort. Sue Winwood was also very generous empty car park for the bird call with the intention of with her time over the weekend. moving onto Tangari Regional Park, but heavy rain put We were very lucky to have a double block an end to that plan! Our tally was 38 Species (total of for our stall, and it was most spacious and 380 birds). attractive. There were many easily Lynton Huxley accessible photos of birds, which were much admired. We also had bird photos that Sue Winwood had saved from past calendars, and these were handed out to children. All visitors were happy to receive handouts consisting of large sheets providing information about frogs, mammals, butterflies and other wildlife, as well as birds from different parts of South Australia. The Birds SA members operating the stall were very happy to answer visitors’ queries about the birds found in their gardens and neighbourhoods.

Items for sale included nest boxes, and they proved very popular. Sixteen nest boxes and several copies of the book “Wildlife of Greater Adelaide” .

Net total receipts to Birds SA for the Keen birdwatchers at Byards Road Wetlands weekend were about $500. (Photographed by Glenys Grivell, 8 May 2021) Thank you from all Birds SA members to Alan, Lou and their volunteer helpers. Cynthia Pyle

32 The Birder | Winter 2021 Future Excursions

Fleurieu Birders Birds SA Contact: Lynton Huxley Saturday 5 June Field Program Co-ordinator and Campout Organiser Scott C.P. Phone: 0498 466 092 or 08 7009 5038 Meet at 8.30am in the first car park on Gould Rd. Email: [email protected] or TRIP LEADER: Richard Smyth fi[email protected] Birds SA

In the light of current COVID-19 protocols for South Saturday 12 June Australia we have prepared a program of field trips as Long Weekend — No Field Trip. outlined below. We will continue to monitor government constraints and keep you informed of any changes via Birds SA our e-News . Thursday 17 June Given Birds SA’s duty of care obligation to you, our Belair National Park (MLR) 13km members, we do ask that: | Moderate | G Members attend field trips only if they are well and Meet at the car park inside the main gate off Upper Sturt have no cold or flu-like symptoms Road, Belair at 8.30am. Note: car parking spaces are G Members attending field trips comply with the limited so an alternative may be to park at the golf club COVID Safe Procedures implemented for our Field and walk through to the meeting spot. Trips including all relevant social distance TRIP LEADER: Lynton Huxley restrictions G Members attending field trips consider bringing The Babblers personal hand sanitiser and a face mask for added personal protection. Sunday 20 June Mundallio Station If you have any queries or require further information please contact me at any of the contacts given above. Meet at 8am at Carlton Parade, Cemetery

Information including Google Map, GPS location details and a bird species list for each excursion site is available Birds SA from the Birds SA website (see User Menu – Go Birding). Sunday 27 June Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park ((MLR) 60km. Excursion Terrain Difficulty Ratings | Moderate | Easy – generally flat terrain Meet at 8.30am at the Tanunda Creek Road CP gate. The Moderate – may include some short undulating gradients Park is located 12km southeast of Tanunda in the Barossa Valley. From Tanunda take the main Tanunda to Difficult – may include some continuous or steep Angaston Road (Mengler Hill Road) for 8km to the gradients southerly turn off onto Tanunda Creek Road. The Park is What to bring: approximately 4km along this road. TRIP LEADER: Richard Woodland G Personal hand sanitiser (facemask optional) G Sun protection cream and a hat Fleurieu Birders G Sturdy footwear and long pants G Drinking water Saturday 3 July Cox Scrub G Binoculars and or camera G A chair/ stool and your lunch for our birdcall at the Meet at 8.30am at the first car park closest to end of the walk Ashbourne TRIP LEADER: Keith Jones

The Birder | Winter 2021 33 Future Excursions (continued)

Birds SA Birds SA Saturday 10 July Saturday 14 August Glenthorne National Park (AP) 17km Brookfield Conservation Park (MM) 123km Moderate | | | Easy | Meet at 8.30am at the Ranger Station on Major’s Road, Meet at 8.30am just inside the gate, approximately O’Halloran Hill, which is on the south side of Majors 35km east of Truro. The entrance is 2km past “8 mile Road, between Main South Road and the Southern corner” at a gentle left bend on an otherwise straight Expressway. The property is 3km from north to south road. and up to 2.5km wide, so it will be a long walk, if we TRIP LEADER: Ali Ben Kahn cover the whole property. TRIP LEADER: Alan Burns Birds SA Birds SA Thursday 19 August Shepherds Hill Recreation Park (MLR) 10km Thursday 15 July Difficult Browns Road, Monarto (MLR) 60km | | | Easy | Meet at 8.30am at the car park on Ayliffes Road. The car park is located approx. 500m east of the intersection Meet at 8.30am at Browns Road, Monarto, just off the of Main South Road and Ayliffes Road. old Murray Bridge Road. Leave the SE Freeway at the Callington exit. Drive through Callington and turn right TRIP LEADER: Lynton Huxley onto the old Murray Bridge road. The junction is on the left at the top of the hill. Birds SA TRIP LEADER: Phil Cole Sunday 29 August Hardy’s Scrub Onkaparinga River NP (MLR) 42km The Babblers | Moderate | Sunday 18 July Meet at 8.30am by the CFS Station, 490 Blewitt Springs Whyalla CP/ Road, Blewitt Springs. Meet at 8am at Tanks/Iron Knob turnoff TRIP LEADER: Wendy Phillips Birds SA Fleurieu Birders Sunday 1 August Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker (MLR) 34km Saturday 4 September Myponga Reservoir | Easy | Meet at 8.30am in the car park on Hansen Street at the Meet at the car park on Bald Hills Road, Mt. Barker at start of the walking trail. 8.30am. TRIP LEADER: Pat Uphill TRIP LEADER: Cynthia Pyle

Fleurieu Birders Birds SA Saturday 7 August Saturday 11 September Aldinga Washpool & southern end of Aldinga Scrub. Jenkins Scrub (MLR) 61km Meet at 8.30am at the Washpool on Button Rd. near the | Moderate | beach. Travel about 10km from Williamstown towards TRIP LEADERS: Bob and Wendy Springton, then turn right onto Mount Road. Meet at 8.30am at the entrance to the scrub on the left, opposite The Babblers Murray Vale Road. Friday 19 to Monday 22 August TRIP LEADER: Richard Woodland Witchelina Nature Reserve Campout, facilities available, costs apply Meet at 11am at Lyndhurst Pub.

34 The Birder | Winter 2021 New Members

We welcome the following 38 new members who have joined the Association in the past few months.

Rose Castine ...... Watervale Alyssia Bond ...... Strathalbyn Dale Wache ...... Warradale John Walker ...... St Mary's Katrina Baker ...... Norton Summit Samuel Savage ...... Brighton John Deans ...... Flagstaff Hill Nikki Grist ...... Ridgehaven Barry Mitchell ...... Aldinga Christopher Proud ...... Adelaide Daniel Slater ...... Macclesfield Angela Carpenter ...... Torrens Park Susan Sweetman ...... Forestville Male and female Cockatiels (Photographed by Lyndall Hughes ...... Glen Osmond Trevor Cox at Laura mid-north, 10 February 2021) Graeme Newcombe ...... Prospect Chris Young ...... Stirling Paul Rogers ...... Tea Tree Gully Janis Haynes ...... Middleton Angela McLean ...... Mount Compass Valda Young ...... Edwardstown Glenda Glazbrook ...... Alberton Kate Moffitt ...... Littlehampton Skylah Green ...... Mount Barker Richard Dolan ...... McLaren Vale Christina Pike ...... Littlehampton Eliza Meredith ...... Balhannah Paul Warneke ...... Keyneton Les Beyer ...... Port Pirie Leanne Burch ...... Dernancourt Maureen Allan ...... Happy Valley Pamela Scanlon ...... Port Noarlunga Linkon Ferguson ...... Osborne Carole Migliarese ...... Wynn Vale Robin Woods ...... Port Elliot Merry Wickes ...... North Adelaide Mary Crawford ...... Flagstaff Hill Rachael Coggan ...... Plympton Park Taylor Headland ...... Kensington Park

If your name has inadvertently been omitted from this list, please contact our Alan Burns and his friend Audrey Membership Officer, Alan Burns. His mobile number is 0411 595 910.

The Birder | Winter 2021 35 Bird Records

Collated by Graham Carpenter Flesh-footed Shearwater Records included here are of species listed as rarely observed or unrecorded in the regions listed in the Field 75, 21/3/2021. Sea off Port Macdonnell, MO. List of the Birds of South Australia. Also included are Harper, D. et al interesting breeding or ecological notes, new records for Cattle Egret a well-known locality or first of the season reports of migratory species. Please send all reports to the Bird 1 in breeding plumage, 5/4/2021. , Records Secretary at: Excelsior Parade, MM. [email protected] or phone 8297 5463. Calgan, S. Note that the list includes reports of rare or vagrant Intermediate Egret species to South Australia that may not have been 1, 26/2/2021. Mawson Lakes, George St reserve, AP. submitted yet, or formally accepted by the Birds SA Harper, D. Rarities Committee (SARC). Members are encouraged to submit records of rare and vagrant species in SA to the Australasian Bittern Committee (refer to list of species and information on 1, 10/2/2021. Second Valley, MLR. Photographed on the Birds SA website). coastal reef. Warwick, D. Brown Quail A very unusual place to see a bittern, but birds are known 25, 28/2/2021. Granite Island, MLR. to move around a lot in late summer as wetlands dry up. Garden, J. & Smith, Ed 2, 5/2/2021. Greenfields Wetlands, Magazine Rd, AP. Nankeen Night Heron Kernot, G. 1, 25/2/2021. Blackwood Hill Reserve, Magpie Creek, 2 + 5 juveniles, 23/3/2021. Granite Island, MLR. MLR. Matthews, S. Bate, G. & Hart, D. 1 immature, 11/2/2021. Seacliff, MLR. Cook, S. King Quail 2, 28/2/2021. Whicker Rd wetlands, AP. Rich, G. 2+, 14/2/2021. Goolwa Beach, MM. Photographed in Royal Spoonbill suburban garden. Thornhill, A. 15, 17/2/2021. Mawson Lakes, Elder Smith Drive, AP. Occasional reports received in recent years are believed to Hookings, M. be birds escaped from captivity. It is unknown whether any 8, 1/3/2021. Whicker Rd wetlands, AP. Newell, D. have established free-ranging populations. 30, 4/4/2021. Morella Basin, MM. Harper, D. Great Crested Grebe Glossy Ibis 1, 1/3/2021. Whicker Rd wetlands, AP. Newell, D. 30, 13/4/2021. St Kilda saltfields, AP. Brooker, W et al. Reported from the same site in the previous Magazine Peaceful Dove Straw-necked Ibis 2, 4/4/2021. Mt Ive HS, NW. Ed Smith 1, 8/4/2021. Nairne, MLR. Karl Jones 1 immature, 20/3/2021. Bald Hill Beach, AP. Taylor, P.W. Tawny Frogmouth 2, 26/3/2021. East Parklands, Victoria Park, AP. 2 + 2 juveniles, 14/3/2021. Leabrook, AP. In suburban Reid, I. native garden. 3, 4/4/2021. Big Swamp, EP. Drummond, L. Eaton, J. Few reports on EP. Pacific Swift 20, 2/4/2021. Encounter Bay, MLR. Carpenter, G. White-bellied Sea Eagle Southern Royal Albatross 1, 4/4/2021. Morella Basin, MM. Harper, D. 1, 21/3/2021. Shelf off Port Macdonnell, MO. Also seen 1, 10/3/2021. Salt Creek, Coorong, MM. Gitsham, J. were 1 Northern Royal Albatross, 3 Campbell Albatross, Little Eagle 3 Buller’s Albatross, 1 Gibson's Albatross and 2 New Zealand Wandering Albatross. Pair + immature, 2/2/2021. Big Swamp, EP. Harper, D. et al. Carter, D. & P.

36 The Birder | Winter 2021 Bird Records (continued)

Square-tailed Kite Wood Sandpiper 1, 2/3/2021. Highbury, MLR. Groves, J. 1, 1/3/2021. Whicker Rd wetlands, AP. Newell, D. 1, 3/3/2021. Pooraka, Manning Cr, AP. In suburban gum 7, 4/4/2021. Big Swamp, EP. Drummond, L. tree. Currie, M. Common Greenshank 110, 15/4/2021. Price Saltfields, YP. Rogers, C. et al. Greater Sand Plover 4, 22/2/2021. Chinaman Wells, YP. Jack, T. Terek Sandpiper 4, 15/4/2021. Clinton CP, AP. Woodland, R. Hooded Plover 9, 22/3/2021. West Beach, Breakout Creek mouth, AP. Pomarine Jaeger Edey, D. 1, 21/3/2021. Sea off Port Macdonnell, MO. Harper, D. et al. Masked Lapwing 135, 3/2/2021. Just W of , EP. White-winged Black Tern Carter, D. & P. 3, 13/3/2021. Tolderol Game Reserve, MM. Harper, D. Sanderling 500, 22/3/2021. Rivoli Bay, Stoney Point, SE Gull-billed Tern (affinis) Alcorn, M. & R. 12, 15/4/2021. Clinton CP, AP. Some in breeding 800, 15/1/2021. Coorong Beach, Teatree Crossing – plumage, with 4 Australian Gull-billed Terns. Murray Mouth, MM Woodland, R. Keith Jones Little Tern Red Knot 2, 6/3/2021. Bald Hill Beach, AP. Taylor, P.W. Several reports of good numbers prior to migrating. 2, 18/3/2021. Price Saltfields, YP. Jack, T. 175, 1/2/2021. Port Lincoln Marina, EP. Carter, D. & P. Also 150 plus juveniles on 15/4/2021. Rogers, C. et al. 700, 24/3/2021. Bald Hill Beach, AP. Taylor, P.W. Fairy Tern 340, 22/2/2021. Chinaman Wells, YP. Jack, T. 145, 15/4/2021. Clinton CP, AP. Woodland, R. Reports of significant numbers from various sites. 90, 6/3/2021. Bald Hill Beach, AP. Taylor, P.W. Latham's Snipe 57, 14/3/2021. Mount Gullet beach, LN. Haase, B. et al. 1, 14/2/2021. Whicker Rd wetlands, AP. Barnes, P. 248, 18/3/2021. Price Saltfield, YP. Jack, T. 15, 13/4/2021. St Kilda saltfields, AP. Brooker, W et al. Black-tailed Godwit 40, 15/4/2021. Clinton CP, AP. Woodland, R. 16, 18/2/2021. St Kilda Saltfields, AP. Increasing to 25 on 17/3 and 44 on 13/4. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo Brooker, W. et al. 12, 22/3/2021. Kanmantoo, MLR. Grant, T. 8, 4/4/2021. Hindmarsh Island, Vesta Drive, MM. Eastern Curlew Calgan, S. 7, 14/3/2021. Mount Gullet beach, LN. Haase, B. et al . 5, 6/4/2021. Mount Barker Summit, MLR. Barron, P. 1, 5/4/2021. Smoky Bay, EP. Nottle, B. More reports received from the eastern Mount Lofty 11, 19/1/2021. Bird Island, AP. Shaughnessy, P. Ranges and adjacent areas. Whimbrel 2 over, 25/3/2021. Malvern, Cremorne Street, AP. Horton, P. 2, 14/3/2021. Mount Gullet beach, LN. Haase, B. et al. 1+, 14/4/2021. Black Forest, AP. Kemper, C. 8, 18/3/2021. Price Saltfields, YP. Jack, T. Usually visits the AP suburbs in November-January. 13, 15/4/2021. Price Saltfields, YP. Rogers, C. et al. Musk Lorikeet Grey-tailed Tattler Several, Feb 2021. American River, KI. Barth, M. 1, 1/2/2021. Port Lincoln Marina, EP. Carter, D. & P. Few reports from KI. 1, 10/3/2021. The Bluff, Encounter Bay, MLR. Carter, D. & P. 2, 18/3/2021. Chinaman Wells, YP. Jack, T.

The Birder | Winter 2021 37 Bird Records (continued)

Purple-crowned Lorikeet Painted Finch Larger than usual numbers in the western hills associated 2, 14/2/2021. 100 km N Coober Pedy, Matheson Bore with profuse flowering of Grey Box Eucalyptus microcarpa Rest Area, NW. trees. Ashdown, D. 12, 17/2/2021. Blackwood Hill Reserve, Magpie Creek, 4, 10/3/2021. 30 km N Quorn, FR. Brief view only as the MLR. birds flew off, but plain dark appearance and red rumps Bate, G. noted. 30, March 2021. Hawthorndene, MLR. Huxley, L. & K. Brittain, R. Previously reported from the southern Flinders Ranges as far south as Alligator Gorge in 1989 (see Black & Horton Immature, 9/3/2021. Highbury, MLR. Found dead, 2014 SA Ornithologist 40 for a review of the species in SA). presumably after flying into window. Bushell, C. Diamond Firetail 2, 19/3/2021. 9 km SSE Mount Barker, MLR. Rainbow Bee-eater Barron, P. 11, 4/3/2021. Middle Beach, AP. Merchant, M. 2, 28/3/2021. Para Wirra NP, Hissey Loop track, MLR. Jermakow, A. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater 3, 11/4/2021. Globe Derby Park, Whites Rd wetlands, AP. Robinson, N. Yellow-faced Honeyeater 3 flying south, 16/4/2021. Black Forest, AP. Carpenter, G. Black-faced Woodswallow 4, 15/3/2021. N of Bowmans, AP. Several previous southerly reports in this area. Taylor, P.W. Grey Butcherbird 1 immature, 10/4/2021. Goolwa Dunes, MM. Dear Colleagues, Gilbie, S. ‘The Naming of Birds is a difficult matter, White-winged Chough It isn’t just one of your holiday games, 6, 21/2/2021. Happy Valley Reservoir, Happy Valley You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter, Drive, MLR. Pfeiffer, P. When I tell you, a bird must have TWO 12, 26/2/2021. Mount Barker, Yunkunga Rd, MLR. DIFFERENT NAMES. Lloyd, R. First of all, there’s the name that the family use daily, Australian Reed Warbler Such as Wren, Robin, Oriole or Bittern, 3, 21/3/2021. Gawler Ponds, EP. Wynne, G. Such as Treecreeper, Mynah, Jacana or Noddy, Very few reports from EP presumably due to the lack of reedbeds. All of them sensible everyday names. There are fancier names if you think they Tree Martin sound sweeter, Large numbers have roosted again at Leigh Street in the city ...... ' from Jan-May. Also gatherings (presumed pre-migration) at the following sites: With apologies to TS Eliot 200, 25/2/2021. Parkside, Alfred St, AP. Brinsley, R. Supplied by David Hansman 300+, 22/3/2021. Port Clinton, YP. Taylor, P.W.

38 The Birder | Winter 2021 Contact Details

Committee meetings are usually held in the Hawker Centre of the Waite Institute on the second Monday of each month, starting at 7.30pm.

POSTAL ADDRESS BIRDS SA COMMITTEE c/- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, President ...... Steven Langley ...... 0490 802 176 ADELAIDE 5000 Vice President ...... Richard Woodland ...... 0488 229 394 Vice President ...... Jeff Groves ...... 0401 125 510 COPY DEADLINE Acting Secretary ...... Alan Burns ...... 0411 595 910 Copy for the SPRING ‘Birder’ is due by the date Assistant Secretary ...... vacant of the July General Meeting (July Treasurer ...... Allan Suter ...... 8265 3838 30).Contributions, ‘Word’ format preferred, can Assistant Treasurer ...... Anita Smyth be recorded on a CD or a USB stick, emailed to Journal Editor ...... Philippa Horton ...... 8271 4388 the email address below, or typed/handwritten Magazine Editor ...... Cynthia Pyle ...... 0414 432987 neatly. Field Programs ...... Lynton Huxley ...... 0498 466 092 Bird Records, ...... Graham Carpenter ...... 8297 5463 [email protected] Membership Officer .... Alan Burns ...... 0411 595 910 Member ...... John Hatch ...... 0401 082 489 ABN 76 339 976 789 Member ...... Davide Gaglio ...... 0421 569 136 Print post number 100004337 Member ...... Jeremy Robertson ...... 0449 201 775 Printed by Abbott Printers and Stationers Member ...... Ray Nias ...... 0414 917 297

COMMITTEE EMAIL CONTACTS WEBSITE: birdssa.asn.au If you wish to contact any committee member by email, use the email address: [email protected] and indicate which committee member you wish to contact. BIRDS SA CURRENT SUBSCRIPTIONS Your message will be forwarded to that person. The annual subscriptions are: e-newsletter EDITOR Individual Member ...... $45.00 Anthony Collebrusco, [email protected] Family Membership ...... $55.00 FURTHER USEFUL CONTACTS Full-time Student (no age restriction) ...... $10.00 Librarian, Karen Donkin ...... 0402 123 960 All members receive a digital copy of both the Campout Organiser, Lynton Huxley ...... 7009 5038 Magazine and the Journal. We also offer printed Rare Birds Secretary, Brian Blaylock ...... 0448 822 374 copies for an additional yearly fee of $20.00 Port Augusta Birders (The Babblers) ‘The Birder’ is produced every three months Contact people: Peter Langdon 0457 708 859 and includes general news, conservation Greg Bannon 8648 6630, Bernie Haase 0419 863 834 updates, bird sightings, and details of past and Fleurieu Birders, a sub-group of Birds SA future meetings and excursions. Contact: Wendy Phillips 8555 0634 or 0414 248 648 The 'South Australian Ornithologist' is Birds Neil Cheshire 8552 7904 SA’s scientific journal. Email: fl[email protected] BirdLife South East SA Members paying by credit card will be charged $1.50 per transaction. Convener: Bob Green 0407 649 909 Email: [email protected] ADVERTISING IN ‘The Birder’ Conservation Sub-committee members Birds SA relies on the integrity of advertisers Jeff Groves (Chair), William Brooker, Phil Cole, Bill Breed, for the quality and nature of their products David Andrewartha, David Hansman, Rodney Attwood, Ali Ben Kahn and services. We cannot guarantee them. SA Rarities Committee (SARC) Members Advertising is charged as follows: Colin Rogers (Chair), David Harper, Julian Reid, Sam Gordon, $1.00 per line Bob Green, John Hatch, Merilyn Browne, Graham Carpenter. up to $40.00 per half page and SA Bird Records Committee Members 10c per inserted leaflet (single sheet). Andrew Black (chair), Brian Blaylock (secretary and database The Committee reserves the right to lower or manager), Graham Carpenter (Bird Records Secretary), waive these fees. Philippa Horton (SA Museum), Bob Green (SE), Ian Reid (NE), Lynn Pedler.

The Birder | Winter 2021 39 Distant Relatives

A group of Budgerigars (Photographed by Philippa Horton at Witchelina, 8 October 2020)

Purple-crowned lorikeets near their nesting hole in a suburban stobie pole (Photographed by Greg Blackman at Ingle Farm, 9 April 2021)

40 Variations in black, grey and white Peter McKenzie took all these photographs at Port Clinton in February 2021

Caspian Terns in flight breeding (right) and non breeding

Adult (on right) and 2 immature Fairy Terns

Top left: Asian Gull-billed Tern Centre: Australian Gull-billed Tern (breeding) Bottom left: Whiskered Tern (breeding)

Australian Gull-billed Terns, adult (left) and immature

41 Two raptors in flight

Spotted Harrier (Photographed by Trevor Cox at Elbow Hill, , 8 January 2001)

Brown Falcon (Photographed by Peter Mckenzie at Alice Springs, October 2012)

42 In breeding plumage ... prepared for their long flight

Teresa Jack took all these photos in Autumn 2021

Lesser Sand Plover (Photographed at Bald Hill in Autumn 2021)

Marsh Sandpiper (Photographed at Clinton CP in Autumn 2021)

Lesser Sand Plovers Red-necked Stint (Photographed at Bald Hill in Autumn 2021) (Photographed at Clinton CP in Autumn 2021)

Black-tailed Godwits (Photographed at Chinaman Wells YP in Autumn 2021) 43 Birds that spend time on the ground

All photographed by Trevor Cox

Flock Bronzewing (Photographed at Boolcoomata NE, 14 November 2020)

Inland Dotterel (Photographed at Boolcoomata NE, 16 November 2020)

Eastern Reef Egret (Photographed at Yanabie on Eyre Peninsula, March 2021)

Australian Painted Snipe (Photographed at Boolcoomata NE, 16 November 2020)